I don't know how it is you your country. IN this country, we've always been told that 'anyone can grow up to be President'.
Except 'anyone' can't. Politics has become the property of RICH OLD MEN. Yes, I know, we have a few women in politics, and some of them are even in positions of 'power'. But...
It IS discouraging. If you remember, five years ago people registered their displeasure and voted for a third party candidate, and we ended up with ...what we have now.
Sometimes I hear myself encouraging my younger friends and the students here at the University - "But, your vote DOES make a difference." Does it, though? Does it really?
We have a new 'star' in American politics, Barach Obama. He is a liberal, a Democrat, a well educated young man. He's African American. He also comes from money. If American were the country it likes to boast that it is, he'd be the rule, and not the exeption. But he's the exception for the color of his skin. That is the first thing that you read in his campaign literature, it's the first thing the Democratic party pushes in your face...
He is the only African-American currently serving in the U.S. Senate, the fifth in U.S. history and the third since Reconstruction. The 2004 U.S. Senate election in Illinois made history as the first Senate election to feature black nominees from both major parties.
it isn't that it isn't important. But how can rich politicians - black, white, pink, green, man, woman or neuter - represent so many people in this country when we are most certainly not all rich.
You're right, Tony. Politics are digusting. And ugly.
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Date: 2005-02-07 11:18 am (UTC)Except 'anyone' can't. Politics has become the property of RICH OLD MEN. Yes, I know, we have a few women in politics, and some of them are even in positions of 'power'. But...
It IS discouraging. If you remember, five years ago people registered their displeasure and voted for a third party candidate, and we ended up with ...what we have now.
Sometimes I hear myself encouraging my younger friends and the students here at the University - "But, your vote DOES make a difference." Does it, though? Does it really?
We have a new 'star' in American politics, Barach Obama. He is a liberal, a Democrat, a well educated young man. He's African American. He also comes from money. If American were the country it likes to boast that it is, he'd be the rule, and not the exeption. But he's the exception for the color of his skin. That is the first thing that you read in his campaign literature, it's the first thing the Democratic party pushes in your face...
He is the only African-American currently serving in the U.S. Senate, the fifth in U.S. history and the third since Reconstruction. The 2004 U.S. Senate election in Illinois made history as the first Senate election to feature black nominees from both major parties.
it isn't that it isn't important. But how can rich politicians - black, white, pink, green, man, woman or neuter - represent so many people in this country when we are most certainly not all rich.
You're right, Tony. Politics are digusting. And ugly.
And very discouraging.