Americans interested in politics please answer?
969518
It's a tough problem.  Almost everyone wants to help someone who is genuinely down on his (or her) luck.  But if people know assistance is there, some will rely on it and not try hard enough to better themselves.  Even FDR said welfare has a "narcotic" effect.\n\nChanges in laws change behavior.  We "reward' poverty and so we may get more of it.\n\nI guess in an ideal world, everyone would ignore the possibility of government transfer payments, or somehow there'd be a mechanism where only those who "truly tried their best" get government support.\n\nSome states have stopped raising benefits when a "welfare mother" has another child.  But then again, it's not the kid's fault.
320834
I think the government could be useful if people like us would just stand up and start doing something.  America needs to start by cutting out this two-party bullshit.  There are only two major parties that get funded by people who get personal favors.  Then, basically we as Americans have few choices when it comes to our leaders.  There just needs to be a shift in national political theory...
753338
I can't think of a topic since you say you're not interested in politics. Here's a website that might help you though:\nhttp://vos.ucsb.edu/
983789
American voters are like lambs being led to slaughter. They don't have a clue as to what's going on. The 'Republicrats' have a stranglehold on our political process, which they control - and we Americans continue to allow this corrupt behavior to go on without challenge or significant change.         -RKO-
559744
You are right and wrong with this question.  \n\nI believe that MOST Americans care, they just have place their personal life ahead of the news.  They are bombarded on a daily basis about people getting killed in Iraq and Afganistan, and they have learned to tune it out.  \n\nSad, but true.
1084607
Hi, I am an Englishman and never visited the States. I suppose like many people I would have to say that I have had mixed feelings about the USA. Most of the information regarding world events etc comes via the media and does not I think always give the most unbiased opinion. Not just in political events. We all see popular shows like Oprah and this without doubt has a profoundly negative effect. We see in the main what can only be described as weirdos and have to wonder if these strange selfish people are indicative of the country as a whole.\nHigh consumers, irresponsible ecological attitude and a me, me, me mind set.\nAll sounds horrible doesn't it? Thankfully there is the Internet where over the past couple of years I have made some excellent friends who have illustrated that there is a far more caring and unselfish, generous aspect to many of the citizens of the US than I previously thought. \nMy country and yours have been strong allies both economically and in time of conflict and shared a whole lot together. I personally hope that this will always be the case.\nWho knows what may happen in Iraq, North Korea and the rest of the world. But I believe that in the main (although always influenced by oil) The forces currently in Iraq are trying extremely hard to bring about stability. If they were only allowed to do so, your country and mine could bring our troops home. The sooner the better.\nIn a nut shell I am pro American. OK?
314944
I know you are trying to pull liberal's tails on your question.  I never voted in my life.  The thing is, politics in general in America is just a zoo.  All politicians are not worth my time nor respect.  So I try to live a life not needing government by making myself enough money to do as I please.  As far as I am concern, government and people in general are all corrupt in the USA.  People lie everyday, and the media is not objective but a medium for making money from commercials or whatever.  People do what it is they do for money for a better life, business ceos don't act ethically and by nature greedy fat cats, liberals are jealous and want a voice, everybody is just too loud and it makes no difference in my life, i ignore the whole thing but to laugh at libs and the rest of them.  I only support me, my kind, and my family.  I am a racist towards those that are racist against me, that includes all whities from Oklahoma.  See, I don't hide behind political correctness, it is another shame of the left, call it like it is and we all will be better off.  All policians lie, they have to in order to do their job, so life is a big B.S. if you keep it in perspective, all this energy is a waste, just leave me alone to my own resources, stay out of my way, and go suck your own problems for a change.  Good day.
661268
Your public library is a great resource and often overlooked in deference to the internet. Try your local senator/representative's offices. I'm sure that they will be more than happy to help you, whether online or in person (depending on where you live. Remember - every vote counts)! Democrats.com, Republicans.com - look around the net for similar pages. Read up on the history of both parties and of the other parties in the usa - read the History of the parties in England from which the parties in America are descended. Learn how the parties have changed, over the years. Make certain that you join the party of TODAY - not only the ideals of yesterday, but the realities of today mixed with the hopes for tomorrow.
965348
Hi again Mayso...\nGoing by what I have learnt (we don't exactly worry about the US here in Australia :P) American politics has never been driven by democratic ideals, rather the economics was the driving force behind many decisions made. However, these decisions were made with the American people in mind.\nI would suggest going to Google, and having a looksie...\n:)\nGood luck
770949
You should stop seeing America as divided.  There are varying views from every direction.  Try to ask more productive questions.
498583
WE as Americans, view any issue presented to us and we, some of us wait to see the reaction of other people of other countries including ours to see how they are going to react. But we are a democratic country and the people give the first priority to the president of the United, States,Maybe we might agree to his decision or not it is up to the American people to make their point of view.
34533
We are praying for a new president, please join us, every little bit helps.\n\nAmerican citizens are actually good hearted people for the most part.
586013
THERE IS NO DIVIDE!  The VAST majority of Americans are middle-of-the-road.  They are not as deeply divided in Conservative/Liberal.  That is what the politicians say to invoke passion in citizens.  But the reality is that VERY VERY few people lean strongly one way or the other.  I am trying to remember the name of a book I read for a low-level Political Science course in college that outlines this all very well.
1149257
How about videos (right side of the page)?: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/17/politics/main656124.shtml?CMP=ILC-SearchStories\n\nHope that helps - enjoy!
1100281
The political playing field is really open to just about all citizens of the US (except president where you have to be born in the US in addition to being a citizen). However, it would be difficult for you to gather votes if no one knows you neh?\n\nMoney talks, if you don't have the money, you have to start small and slowly work  up to the national scene.
565021
As several people have already said, there is no non-media-influenced view in the US--just as there is no non-media-influenced opinion in the UK.  I mean, first of all, "media" covers essentially all sources external to one's self and so if one's opinion is completely uninfluenced by media, it's an uninformed and fanciful opinion at best.  When you say "media" you're most likely referring to television first and AM talk radio second and these, I'm sad to say, have a frightening influence on the American mindset.  Mainstream t.v. and radio are very much controlled by what we like to call "special interests," which translates as "anyone with enough power and money to influence news content and coverage."  With the Bush administration in particular, the name of the game has been "access"--the news organizations that don't play ball with the Bushies don't get access to the Prez and/or his many crooked puppeteers.  Now, you might reasonably ask yourself why news organizations would care about having access to a bunch of known liars, but at this point the press itself is so complicit in so many numerous political scandals that it has become part of the problem. Young Americans are somewhat better-informed because they tend to get most of their information from the internet, but young people have also been really apathetic about voting, so I'm not sure how much we benefit from their "research."  \n\nWhat you should keep in mind as you watch America from a distance is that Republicans and Democrats, "liberals" and "conservatives" have been so manipulated by "wedge issues"--abortion, gay marriage, immigration--over the last twenty years or so that they believe themselves to be much more polarized than they actually are. The "red state/blue state" dichotomy, for example, is entirely false--the image came about mostly because of the "winner-take-all" nature of the our electoral system. Consequently, we should be seeing Americans unifying toward the impeachment and probable criminal indictment of Bush and his band of thugs, but instead we're seeing Republicans trying to prove that their dislike of Bush doesn't mean that they've (gasp!) gone liberal, while the Democrats--the big weenies--are so busy trying to capture the affection of the Religious Right, (whose power has been grossly inflated by mainstream media),that they don't recognize a constituency  when it walks up and hits them over their collective, (and profoundly stupid) head.  \n\nIn short, it's a mess over here that's probably going to get a lot worse before it improves.  There are no viable contenders for the 2008 elections and there's no reason to believe that our now firmly-entrenched aristocracy, (which includes mainstream media), will let in an "outsider."  My guess is that we are, at most, maybe ten years away from significant civil strife and some kind of totalitarian backlash. I hope that I'm wrong, but I read a lot of history  and it's just not looking good at all.
765561
I voted Straight democratic ticket for the first time in my life, because I am fed up with the soaring national debt, the focus on the war on terror, focus on tax cuts instead of providing incentives for lower income Americans, the scandals in the Republican party, and the sad state of the American family values. I also feel that it is dangerous to have no checks and balances between the two political parties when one party dominates the legislative and executive branches of government. My primary source of information is the Internet. We do not have TV and I very seldom read newspapers.