The issues they hold like a gun to our heads to keep us going to the polls...

[Ruby the Liberal]

On the left, it is repeal of DOMA/DADT & ending the wars.

On the right, it is repeal of Roe v. Wade.

Honestly, I have to wonder if either party will ever do anything about either issue.

As I asked my RW family - In 6 years, what did the Bush the Lesser & Co. do to advance repeal of R v. W?

With all of the cases pending on GLBTQ rights (MA federal tax rights for same sex marriage, CA right to same sex marriage, DADT) - I have to ask - WHO has our back on this?

Better yet (on both sides) - WHAT IS THEIR INCENTIVE?

It feels like they all keep dangling these issues in front of us with NO results so that they can keep kicking the can down the road to keep us going back to the polls.

The incentive is to drive votes, not achieve results.

Yes, of course I will vote. Wouldn't miss the chance, but blah.

[CoffeeCat]

1. The incendiary social issues...

...such as abortion, gay rights--are issues about which most of our politicians could
care less.

Those issues are used to incite, inflame and motivate the party faithful into believing
that there are major differences between the parties. Social issues these days are
the shiny objects that get the masses to the polls. These shiny objects also cause
a glint in our eye and often prevent us from seeing the truth.

The truth is...both parties have been almost 100 percent engulfed by corporate, Fascist
interests who are dismantling our democracy, brick by brick. The corporatist Dems
and the corporatist Republicans are united in deed and goal. They further corporate
interests, perpetuate money-making wars and erode our democracy. That's what they
do. That is what is being done right in front of our eyes.

If there was a powerful contingent of Republicans or Dems that was against this sort
of nonsense, it would have ended by now, or they would have spoken up by now.

"We The People" are not heard anymore. They do not care about. They only
care about their corporate masters. They will give us speeches, throw out pleas during
election time--but basically they detest us and think of us as insects.

By the time the majority of Americans figure it out--and stop fighting and stop their tea
partying--the neocons will be ready. They are ready. Feel like revolting or complaining
about the lack of democracy--well, think again. By speaking out against the government, you can be
declared an "enemy combatant" then detained indefinitely, and you have no right to an
attorney. Hell, Habeas Corpus is still gone, so they don't even have to produce the "body"
of evidence that they (supposedly) have against you. You can even be tortured. And they
don't have to tell anyone that you've been arrested or where you are.

That's the truth.

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. "Shiny Objects"

Brilliant in it's simplicity!

That is it in a nutshell. Shiny objects that no one on either side of the aisle will EVER do anything about because those are the trick ponies that keeps the voters trudging out to the polls.

Thanks for putting that so succinctly. :toast:

[SargeUNN]

2. DADT is going away

I feel it done already and I see the religiously heavy Air Force has already stopped enforcing it.

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. It is under appeal

Yes, they have stopped discharges for the moment, but as a member of our armed services (thank you for your service, BTW), do you honestly think that the culture has shifted to an open environment, or will there be repercussions to be seen once the administration wins its appeal while the next court date is being scheduled and DADT is back in force (even if temporary)?

Sorry for the long question/sentence.