Just political problems?

[shadow00]

The declaration of independence says "right to pursue happiness." Why would we just go after political problems? I feel that if you want to take office you should want to fix all of the problems in your jurisdiction.

One thing that I feel, and many others agree with me on this, is that if we taught psychology in middle school a lot of the nation's problems would lessen, or go away.

(I want to be a candidate apparently.)

[Michael]

OK, but one of the problems of actual democracy is that "fixing" all the problems is inherently impossible. To "fix" problems, they must first be identified as problems -- is homosexuality a "problem" that should be "fixed"? How about the presence of black people in "our" schools? Both of those have been seen -- and are seen as "problems".

The really, really hard thing about politics is that when you get down to it, it is the intersection of differing models of reality. If you have any intellectual honesty, you must accept those models as equally valid. But at the same time, you must also accept that there are some unyielding principles. Rights, as you so correctly state, which are inalienable, among them being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everybody insofar as your happiness doesn't involve taking away my life or liberty.

So. By definition, all problems are political. The purpose of government is to make sure that as many people are as happy as possible. This is a very difficult task indeed, and it's one that humans will always fail at. But we have to try. Really and truly.

My two bits. Good luck on your candidacy -- you got my vote.

[shadow00]

Well It's obviously impossible to fix every problem, I think that if you want office you should say that you're at least going to try. As for the actual problems I'm talking about things everyone agrees is already a problem like crime, suicide, etc...

I'm 19, so the places I can be elected to are very limited. I'll probably just have to stick with writing laws for a while.

[Rachael]

I agree a lot here with what Micheal has to say in that you can't possibly (nor should you want to, in my opinion) try to fix every problem because it will boil down to the point where what one person or group of people sees as a problem to be diminished, another person or group of people sees as something good, and to be encouraged. For example, drugs, "banned books," alternative religions/lifestyles, or even something silly, like my own personal pet topic: designer breeds (they're mutts, not worth the money, get something from a shelter)
I think that one thing that can probably be agreed on though is that education IS something that should be encouraged at any and all points. I believe it was our former president John Adams who said that the liberal education of our youth (especially those with limited social or economic resources) is so important and bolsters so many vital aspects of our democracy that practically no expense would be considered too great towards those ends.

[RU Sirius]

That's one place where I lean toward the Libertarian camp. Just because something is "bad" doesn't mean that it rises to the level of necessitating government intervention. It's something I see around me all the time in local Bay Area government and I'm pretty knee jerk about it. Do LESS BETTER...

[Michael]

Do less, better. Good mantra.

[Hoke Murray]

Very good point made there. One of the big issues we have as a society is this concept of the tyranny of the "majority" that proclaims that because one party acheived a slim majority of the 40% of us that vote, the others are to be ignored.
The true function of a valid government is to balance the goals of all of the people and to find solutions that are viable to the largest number of us while still not marginalizing those in the minority. One of the most absurd statements of the last seven years is the traitor Bush claiming that he has a "mandate". Hell, he didn't even have a majority of those who DID vote!
We as a society have to determine what the real problems are and work to fix them from the ground up and not let these fools who are in charge "fix" things to their benefit.

[Gary F. Moraco]

When did a well rounded education become outlawed?Specialization becomes a disaster?

[Gary F. Moraco]

[Gary F. Moraco]

MEGACHURCH KOOKS TAKE OVER AMERICA ! FILM AT 11 !!! Enjoy your Wide World Of Sports.

[Gary F. Moraco]

http://www.gregpalast.com/exxon-suxx-mccain-duxx

[Gary F. Moraco]

http://icasualties.org/oif/