I hate politics

GJones27

So, I live in Washington, DC, and I live, eat, and breathe politics both at my job and afterwards.  But the more I study it, the more disgusted I become.  I just need to gripe about this whole government shutdown that is appearing very likely.  Friends of mine in the federal government won't get paid and would be furloughed if they don't reach agreement by tomorrow.  DC's garbage won't be picked up, which means the cockroaches from the dumps right out of my window will come in.  The cherry blossoms festival here wouldn't happen this weekend.  And depending on how long this goes on, if it happens, the economy would be in a much worse shape as a result, and that's the least that we need.

I don't want to start to a whole debate on who's to blame, though I have very strong opinions on the subject.  But it's amazing that two (or perhaps one) side can't find compromise.  There's all of this talk on religion among politicians, but few have the humility to accept that they can't get it their way all of the time.  Arrg...

Sorry, I'm a bit crabby from all this.  What do you girls think? 

BrideToBeBecauseHeLovesMe

I concur - politics=BLEH.  I've NEVER liked politics and I'm very doubtful that I ever will.  Why is it so hard for people to compromise?  Lame.

iamjoesgurl

I hate living near DC because I feel like I have to hear so much more about politics as a result.  I don't follow politics because I feel like all politicians are very selfish and don't actually represent the people.  There is so much greed on both sides of the fence and I just hate thinking about it.  Aren't you glad you asked?  

Oh, and I feel bad for you dealing with politics at work too.  At least I only have to deal with office politics - not government politics.

AshNoel8

Ugh, I am not a fan of politics either. Not ALL politicians are bad- my grandfather was a good one! But I agree that a lot of them can be selfish. I don't follow politics at all, although I know I should. 

louieblue

Food for thought:  Our president and Congress will still be getting paid however.

I have no qualms with revealing that I am absolutely disgusted with one party -- and I'm right-leaning so that should be an easy riddle.  But my party is not doing it's part and being just as stubborn.  It's as if both sides are refusing to budge to see which one caves first. 

I could have sworn we could only elect adults to the White House and Congress...

GJones27

Eh, the Knot deleted what I had just posted, so if both posts show up, sorry.  What I find so stupid is that DC residents don't even get a vote in Congress, yet it is our local government and eventually economy that would get shut down.  Few people outside the Beltway would feel it as much as we do.  We're second-class citizens.  I personally would blame one side for this mess, but I don't wish to start a debate on here.  My frustration has just built up too much, I just have to let it out.  Sorry for complaining... I know this has nothing to do with wedding planning.

untherapy

I'm so frustrated with this entire situation. I'm a grad student who works at one of the DOE labs...needless to say this year has been horrible with no one knowing if we're about to get shut down.

If they don't pass a budget my experiment will close immediately and all the lab's employees will be out of work. They need to look around and see how many people they are hurting by being stubborn and not coming to a compromise. It's beyond ridiculous...

bltata

I have a political science degree and because of that find politics both interesting and infuriating.  Basically, we have 2 extremist sects fighting each other off on the principle of "I'M RIGHT, YOU'RE WRONG."  They are diametrically opposing one another just because the other side is the other side.  It's ridiculous.  What they need to realize is that the government shut down and military stop gap won't do anything but perpetuate the already difficult problem with the budget.  Anyone who has been without a job, or had to settle for an inadequately paying one, knows that once you fall behind, or stop trying, it's that much harder to actually get back on your feet.

If we completely stop the functioning of our government, all it will cause is for us to have to play catch up even more.

mrandmrsbrist

<*threadjack*>
Beth, did we change the sig challenge? When do these things happen? I'm so confused.
</*threadjack* />

kellya01

I'm into politics more as an observer and an activist behind the scenes... I vote regularly, I get the word out for candidates who DO represent the people and who stand strong on their values and beliefs.  I am so disgusted with this potential government shut down... is that even possible?  Ugh!!  I am SO glad I already did my federal taxes and got my refund... Now I just have to mail my state taxes in.  Thankfully my state isn't shutting down its government.  It's a shame that a body of men and women are basically shutting down the government of one of the most powerful nations in the world because they can't come to a compromise that works for both sides.

[Deleted User]

I'm a federal worker...  it's so scary right now!  we have a meeting at 9:30 CT to get our furlough notices...  hopefully the shut down is short and maybe we will receive some kind of retroactive pay...  I hope so, because our mortgage is still due!

heyimbren

My cousin just sent me this article (click) which I found really interesting.

Now, to be fair, he and I are both Canadian so we're reading about this from a very different perspective I'm sure.

But we actually have an upcoming election, simply because the political parties don't want to work together on anything (short version haha).

And while I hate the way politics often turns out, I don't hate politics in and of itself. I find it so fascinating to study and watch, and I believe it's so important for citizens to be more involved because that's the only way a democracy can really function well.

We can complain about politicians all we want- but they are sitll being elected by people somewhere.

joyfulbride424

This is why its important to vote. This is also why I'm registered Independent, cause everybody makes me nuts. Theres certain things I lean way to the left and other things I lean way to the right.  I know registering independent makes me uneligable to vote in the primaries but when it came time to make the decision I couldn't. This is also why it's so important to pray for our leaders.

sessionswedding

My FFIL is an elected official, so I'm probably a little closer to politics than I'd like to be.  And while a government shutdown scares me, I'm kinda trying to not think about it.  There's nothing I can do about it, so worrying about it just stresses me out.

DramaGeek

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_hate-politics?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:b3c2da6f-4573-4458-92eb-571a0546bbedPost:c27820d2-c390-475c-9717-1874decd9212">Re: I hate politics</a>:
[QUOTE]This is why its important to vote. This is also why I'm registered Independent, cause everybody makes me nuts. Theres certain things I lean way to the left and other things I lean way to the right.  I know registering independent makes me uneligable to vote in the primaries but when it came time to make the decision I couldn't. This is also why it's so important to pray for our leaders.
Posted by joyfulbride424[/QUOTE]

<div>H and I are both registered Independents as well. for the exact same reason, though we probably lean more left than right these days.  Republicans find us too liberal and Democrats find us too conservative. </div>

marinabreeze

I am a registered Democrat, mainly because in my area the Republicans tend to be extremely conservative and there are some Democrats here that are more moderate than liberal.  On most things I'm liberal, though I do have a few issues I'm quite conservative on. 

To be honest, though, I'm pretty disillusioned with both parties and with politics in general - which is pretty bad since I'm earning a graduate degree in political science this year.  It doesn't mean I'm not going to vote or be politically active in other ways, but I think I'm just about done with both parties, and I think that the two-party revolving door system we have here in the US (and it has been the same two parties since 1860) is a huge problem that leads to lack of real change and progress. 

My friend (who is also my pastor) actually inspired me last year, since he had mentioned that he simply voted for third parties due to the fact that neither major party represents where he stands on the issues, and he got tired of voting for the lesser of two evils.  I think I'm going to start voting and advocating my conscience more from here on out.  I have to be the change I'm looking to see.

kellya01

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_hate-politics?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:b3c2da6f-4573-4458-92eb-571a0546bbedPost:c27820d2-c390-475c-9717-1874decd9212">Re: I hate politics</a>:
[QUOTE]This is why its important to vote. This is also why I'm registered Independent, cause everybody makes me nuts. Theres certain things I lean way to the left and other things I lean way to the right.  I know registering independent makes me uneligable to vote in the primaries but when it came time to make the decision I couldn't. This is also why it's so important to pray for our leaders.
Posted by joyfulbride424[/QUOTE]

<div>My older brother is a registered independent -- it's great because he gets political mail from BOTH parties because they're both trying to get the independent vote.</div><div>
</div><div>He actually goes to vote in the primaries -- what he has to do is he goes, tells them what ticket he wants (republican or democrat ticket) and votes.  He doesn't have to declare his political allegiance to one party or the other, and he can vote how he likes.</div><div>
</div><div>My parents used to purposely register for opposite parties so they could vote for the judges (which used to be done in the primaries only and by party), but since THAT finally changed in our state, they are now both registered for the same party.</div><div>
</div><div>I've been a registered republican for a while now, used to be independent, but I could change my party at any time.  I don't necessarily feel "allegiance" to the republican party, I find the candidates that reflect my point of view and who have a perspective on gov't issues that I agree with, and vote for them.  Last election, I voted... I would say my ticket was probably 60% in my party, and 40% out of my party (both liberals and democrats) because it's hard to find one party where I agree with everything.  </div><div>
</div><div>I would say several of us on here are kind of "conservative moderates" because as another PP said, we're too conservative for some of the democrats, but we're too liberal for some of the republicans.  I really am a conservative moderate in that sense!! :-) </div>

sessionswedding

I'm registered to vote with no party preference, not as an "independent," just an amorphous category of non-allegied voter.  I guess that's an Alabama thing?  Lol.  Anyway, FI and his whole family are registered Republicans.  They will probably want me to register Republican if they find out I'm not, but I always ask for the Republican ballot anyway, so I don't think it matters.

DramaGeek

Interesting, I didn't realize that some states allow you to vote in the primary even if you're not registered with one of the major parties.  We can't.  I'm not sure which party I'd choose if we could though; I do vote my conscious and often that ends up 3rd party.

sessionswedding

Yep, when I walk up to vote they ask me which ballot I'd like, and I get to pick per election.  But like I said, I usually pick Republican anyway.  Up until now I always needed to make sure I voted for FFIL, but he's pretty much decided he's not going to run again, so we'll see how it goes this year.

DramaGeek

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_hate-politics?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:b3c2da6f-4573-4458-92eb-571a0546bbedPost:5c196c73-8d06-4d36-8392-65e40e488e17">Re: I hate politics</a>:
[QUOTE]Yep, when I walk up to vote they ask me which ballot I'd like, and I get to pick per election.  But like I said, I usually pick Republican anyway.  Up until now I always needed to make sure I voted for FFIL, but he's pretty much decided he's not going to run again, so we'll see how it goes this year.
Posted by sessionswedding[/QUOTE]

<div>Wait...are you talking primaries or general elections?</div>

sessionswedding

Primaries.  In the general election obviously we get a full ballot.

DramaGeek

ok, for a second there I thought I was going nutso :-P