Fundamental Political Change

[WinePusher]

Barack Obama has indicated that he wishes to fundamentally transform the United States of America. The entire progressive platform seems to also be based upon change and transformation as well.

What, in the United States of America, needs to be fundamentally transformed?

[Furrowed Brow]

As an outsider looking in I’d say America needs to improve its healthcare provision for all its citizens so that its health figures for all its population no longer trail the rest of the developed world. If there is one thing the richest nation on earth should be ashamed of it is this.

Eisenhower’s warning against the military industrial complex holds true more than ever. America could reduce its military budget to a quarter its present size and still have the worlds largest military.

[Wyvern]

In addition to what FB wrote I would say that our education system and infrastructure both need dramatic improvements.

[Lux]

I agree that the healthcare system needs fundamental change, the education system should be fixed and the military budget is ridiculously high. On top of that, I would add that the American approach to international relations needs fixing (and that's related to the military budget - there is no need for USA military bases in 50 countries)

[micatala]

Barack Obama has indicated that he wishes to fundamentally transform the United States of America. The entire progressive platform seems to also be based upon change and transformation as well.

What, in the United States of America, needs to be fundamentally transformed?

Correct me if I am wrong, but this 10 second video was from 5 days before Obama was elected?

What is the context to his remarks? Did he say what he meant? Is he only referring to the fact that electing a black American would be considered a fundamental transformation?


To answer the OP question outside of whatever Obama might or might not have been referring to, I think there are some things it would be good to fundamentall change.

1) How our elections are funded, in particular, and more generally, how money influences politics.

2) How people view government. Right now, many people view government as "the other" and don't identify themselves with it at all. At least, they act and speak this way towards the parts of the government they don't like. I would like to see more people become substantially engaged in the government, become more informed and less driven by emotion and sound bites, and come to feel a sense of ownership in the government. This does not mean taking over government for their own particular narrow point of view. It means developing a maturity to understand that government has many roles and aspects, and that we can disagree on a decision but still support the government that will enact that decision and the process by which we got to that decision.

If 1) and 2) happened, then I think the others things mentioned so far would also be addressed with substantive, quality solutions.

[nygreenguy]

1) How our elections are funded, in particular, and more generally, how money influences politics.

A bit ironic because Obama is about to have the first ever BILLION dollar campaign.

[micatala]

1) How our elections are funded, in particular, and more generally, how money influences politics.

A bit ironic because Obama is about to have the first ever BILLION dollar campaign.

Perhaps. However, this was what I identified as a fundamental change. I think he at least partially agrees, but probably has other views than me on the specifics. And of course, we are not anywhere close to that yet, but in fact, with the Citizens United decision we are going the other way.

I would agree spending a billion dollars on a Presidential campaign is ridiculous.

[WinePusher]

Correct me if I am wrong, but this 10 second video was from 5 days before Obama was elected?

What is the context to his remarks? Did he say what he meant? Is he only referring to the fact that electing a black American would be considered a fundamental transformation?

Yes, it is from a speech before his election. Does the context have any affect on the meaning of what was being said? I don't know and I don't have the means to post the entirety of the speech. The context issue is irrelevant considering the fact that Obama's campaign ran on the slogan "Change we can believe in"

Perhaps. However, this was what I identified as a fundamental change. I think he at least partially agrees, but probably has other views than me on the specifics. And of course, we are not anywhere close to that yet, but in fact, with the Citizens United decision we are going the other way.

I would agree spending a billion dollars on a Presidential campaign is ridiculous.

I honestly have to say that the funding of campaigns doesn't concern me. There are more pressing issues at hand, if Meg Whitman wants to spend millions of dollars on her campaign or Barack Obama wants to purchase a half an hour ad on TV they can go ahead and do it. In fact, managing a state or national election would requires large sums of money, reducing or capping the amount of money a donar or a candidate can spend on their personal campaign would be a violation of their rights. As for as Citizens United is concerned, it was a victory for speech and really has no adverse affects.

[nygreenguy]

I honestly have to say that the funding of campaigns doesn't concern me. There are more pressing issues at hand, if Meg Whitman wants to spend millions of dollars on her campaign or Barack Obama wants to purchase a half an hour ad on TV they can go ahead and do it. In fact, managing a state or national election would requires large sums of money, reducing or capping the amount of money a donar or a candidate can spend on their personal campaign would be a violation of their rights. As for as Citizens United is concerned, it was a victory for speech and really has no adverse affects.

What about our rights to a fair and open election? It is because of funding we get crooked politicians. Funding makes the candidates accountable to the funders, and NOT the people. I would argue the obscene elections are the number one reason this country is the way it is.

[Adstar]

America's ability to change anything about itself is rapidly falling out of it's own hands.

It's astronomical debt will see it's currency soon abandoned as the world reserve currency. And when the worlds faith in the US dollar ends economic chaos will ensue. All the people of the world who have bought SU securities will lose all their investments because the US will be bankrupt and the US dollar will only be worth the paper it is written on. So over night million of people around the world will lose trillions. Just think how the arabs and East Asians will react to seeing their massive investments in the US securities vanish overnight.

A global depression that will make the 1930's experience look like child’s play.

For a taste of the future look up the Weimar Republic and hyper inflation.



All Praise The Ancient Of Days