We are not being served well by our "public servants" - a few factors not often discussed

[NRaleighLiberal]

that came to mind today - the endless election cycle - essentially 24/7/52 - when added to the mission of the Repubs to do nothing but obstruct - is rendering pretty much all politicians meaningless. Combine that with the 24 hour, cable TV, Twitter and Facebook et al (social media) need to produce hair on fire "breaking news" all the time - it reminds me of Monty Python's favorite tag line - it is simply "silly".

Maybe because my wife and I have pretty much checked out of the media - I don't read Facebook much at all, Twitter even less, we don't watch any news on TV (stopped that about 7 years ago), only get the paper on weekends - but it seems to us that the public in general can't look away, so all these Citizens United fed ads are just anesthetizing the public.

Of course we voted, and always vote Democratic - but I have to ask, has there ever, ever been a time that politicians - as a "job" - are so ineffective - except as non-stop campaigners. (and yes, I do think that Obama has been handed as crappy a pair of terms possible - for all of the many reasons we discuss here at DU).

My skepticism is veering dangerously toward cynicism.

[RobertEarl]

1. DU helps

Helps me keep what little bit of ( word for not cynical?) and sanity I have left.

I was feeling bad yesterday.... wasn't gonna even post here.... but I did and it wasn't long before the old feeling returned, and now am proposing a mutiny of our party leaders.

Our leaders have lost touch

I am thinking the few elected officials in my area will be getting a contact from me telling them they must still have the touch and so they need to start using that power to appoint and bring forward new leaders. Those new leaders will be those who have proven they too are still in touch.

The turnout proves the present day party leaders are failures. The only winners we have are those who got reelected this time, for they have shown they are in touch with the people.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. DU helps - that is an understatement, for me.

I've come to look forward to insightful information shared by so many here. It helps a great deal.

[7wo7rees]

3. Ditto to the both of you. Everything you both say. n/t

[bhikkhu]

4. My perception is that both sides have been acting like minority parties

and basically abdicating any actual government responsibility. That's the republicans passing all sorts of hopeless "symbolic" legislation that will never pass the senate, and the democrats doing the same on the other side. I also don't watch tv, so I miss most of the bluster.

Obviously the circumstances are different now. The problem is that the republicans now have the opportunity to govern, while our side is reduced to continued spitballs from the minority - not a position from which to develop an effective argument for good government, and not a position where one can demonstrate much competence. I would hate to spend the next two years with nothing but a vague hope that the repugs screw up enough to get voted out.