86% in poll say government is broken

[rooftoprevolutionary]

CNN released results from a poll stating that 86% of people questioned believe that the government is broken. Of that 86%, 81% say it can be fixed and 5% say it's beyond repair.

The survey was conducted over the phone, questioning 1,023 American adults.

Now, I'll be the first to say that surveys irritate me, not only because of the badly timed phone calls or emails but because the results are often quite fallible and can be used to support whatever agenda it is that is being pushed.

That aside, even if 50% of those 1,023 Americans thought the government was fucked, wouldn't that be enough to say, "Whoa! There's something seriously wrong here!?"

I know I'm not the only one who's pissed off about the government, about how our country is run. Even if these numbers are skewed, I know I'm not the only one.

So, what's the deal? Why are we all just standing by then? Why are we all just answering phone calls, emailing each other and bitching over beer about the state of the union?

Let's do something about that overwhelming sense of distrust and disappointment.
It's not enough to say you're mad as hell, you have to act, and refuse to take it anymore.

[kctim]

1. We can't "do something"

because we don't agree about what is wrong.
Half believe there is to much govt in personal lives and half believe there is not enough. This has led to fighting amongst ourselves, rather than fighting for an effective and respectful govt.

[rooftoprevolutionary]

4. you can always do something

if that weren't true, we wouldn't have civil rights, i wouldn't be allowed to vote, we'd still belong to britain and i wouldn't be allowed to have an afternoon cocktail.

change is possible, if enough people believe it is.

our country may be splintered, but there are enough people that realize it's fucked, and there are enough people that feel what's wrong: their homes and jobs are gone, they can't afford to get a tooth pulled or a broken leg set, their kids are getting shit education, or being sent off to fight some useless war.

millions of people can agree on those things. i'd suggest starting with something less broad tho. like, for example our tax dollars being spent on the top 1% and their bonuses. everyone can agree that that is unjust and unacceptable. let's move on that.

[kctim]

11. Of course we can always do something

but 86% fighting for something would be alot more effective than 43% fighting against each other.

And yes, enough people do realize that things are messed up, but we disagree greatly on what is messed up and especially about how to fix it. For every person who blames evil business for the loss of their home or job, another person blames govt meddling. For every person who blames evil business for their healthcare woes, another person blames govt. For every person upset about tax dollars being spent on bonuses, there is a person upset that govt gave them the money in the first place and yelling "I told you so."

IF we really want to fix govt, EVERYBODY must start with respect and the unity that comes from it.

[rooftoprevolutionary]

14. i agree with you

but there is a common thread in your argument and that is that the people aren't getting what they want.
we can't continue to fight amongst each other, that is very true.

i'm sure not everyone who fought for a common goal had exactly the same viewpoints on everything, but they agreed that something was wrong and that the people had to fix it.
the more people learn about their government, the more people that act instead of sit and do nothing, the more you'll build that coalition of respect and unity.

[Echo In Light]

6. Hence the enormous propaganda effort utilized by a govt using The Big Lie

[T Wolf]

2. NOt sure what more we can do. The Dems in govt. KNOW what we want. The only problem is that

our wants mean nothing against the demands of their corporate owners. As a result, we get shit.

I am totally convinced that the only way left to get the message across is to let the pols technically "on our side" (read Democratic) suffer whatever consequences occur in November. If they squeak back into office, maybe they will wise up (though I doubt it).

If they lose, we have not really lost anything but a crowd of dishonest pretenders.

Short of taking them hostage and holding them at gunpoint until they pass worthwhile legislation, there is no leverage left except our electoral work, our dollars, and our votes. As long as they can count on those things, they will never change.

[kctim]

16. Wrong

The natural response will be that Americans did not vote, or even bother to show up to vote, for the Democrats agenda. Especially on HCR.
I don't believe it, but IF 70+% of Americans really want a public option, EVERY Dem should be able to run on that and win, giving President Obama the power he needs to make it so.

[heli]

3. People who had a chance to do something about it decided against change

Gotta keep our powder dry, gotta be bipartisan, and all that crap. We're screwed.

[rooftoprevolutionary]

5. so fuck them

fuck those people that didn't have the spines to do anything, screw pelosi and screw obama if he can't get his shit together.
realistically tho, we can't just look to the government to fix our problems. even tho it's their job to govern, let's face it. they're not doing it.

so, it's up to us to get shit done. plain and simple.

[JDPriestly]

7. It isn't the government that is the problem.

The government reflects the dissension in the people.

And the dissension in the people is due to an media industry that is overly dramatic.

[spanone]

9. bingo!

[rooftoprevolutionary]

13. i wish that were the case

but the government doesn't reflect the people at all - not anymore.

[guitar man]

8. I'd like to see the results

of a follow up poll to this one, with the simple question, "who broke it?"
:shrug:

[rooftoprevolutionary]

10. haha - that wouldn't be a one answer survey

i don't think they could collect enough coherent data on that one.

but if it were me, i'd say it's been a collective effort, ongoing for the past 50 years, between corporations and government.

[AllentownJake]

12. Government = Big Business and Big Business = Government

Liberals and conservatives are having an ideological debate about two entities that have merged for over 30 years.

[rcrush]

15. +1

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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[damntexdem]

17. What's wrong with the other 14%?

And when are Congressional Dems going to try to prove the public wrong?

(Likely never.)

[kenny blankenship]

18. Pie eyed optimists!

They'll wake up. Unfortunately when they finally do, their fury will be matched only by their impotence, and there'll be the Devil to pay.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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[peggygirl]

21. The GOP flame game worked well. nt

[surrealAmerican]

22. A poll like this is completely meaningless without ...

... any historical data. I doubt that number would have been much different 10, 20, or even 30 years ago. Our political system always seems "broken" to most of the people. Democracy is a messy system that requires continuous public input. We are always "fixing" a "broken" system.

[rooftoprevolutionary]

23. agree

but there are two issues with that: these days there isn't that much public input - many americans seem all too happy to just vote democrat or republican b/c they're told to, or don't have the energy to look into things and two, government is not based on public opinion anymore, it's based on corporate interests.