The Future of US Politics (for reference in 2020)

I'll try to be brief:

Some people are saying the Republican Party, as we know it, is dead, as evidenced by Trump's rise to prominence. Some people are saying the Democrat Party, as we know it, is dead, as evidenced by the DNC's refusal to support Sanders. Some people are saying the Libertarian's time has finally come, and are going all-in on Gary Johnson.

My predictions:

Four years from now, the Republican Party will still be controlled by the same central cast of characters and little, if anything, will have changed. Four years from now, the Democrat Party will still be controlled by the same central cast of characters and little, if anything, will have changed. Four years from now, the Libertarians will still be bitching about the unfairness of third-party politics in America from the obscurity of their parents' basements.

And everyone will be hashing out the same old arguments again. And again. Debating the same s#, the same way, again. And again. And again.

Go back and look at the political forums from four or eight years ago. Take a good look:

Little, if anything, has changed. The issues are the same. The arguments are the same. Even the deflection tactics by the opposition are the same. The dialogue is the exactly same, therefore I see no reason why the slaves will not continue to demand their own comfortable slavery as they have always done (of late).

Every four years, the stage is set, the boundaries are drawn, and the rules are written about what can and cannot be said. And every four years, almost everyone will fall for it.

I make the bold prediction that one will be able to examine the discourse from this election cycle, compare it to the next election cycle, and find no substantive differences.

I make the prediction that Americans will be as divided as ever, in every demographic you can think of--economic class, race, you name it. By design.

Every election is a distraction. How many cycles will it take for you to understand this?

a reply to: NthOther

And yet so many people believe changing the system works. Many even believe obama did a good job. Some even believed his DNC speech...madness

a reply to: WhatGoldStandard

I couldn't watch much of either convention.

Why?

Because I've seen them both about eight times already, and stopped believing them the first time I was lied to. I simply don't understand how people can go their entire lives (including some "seasoned" members of ATS) and continue to enthusiastically participate in the same bulls# every few years.

They have to know it's BS at this point. And if not... well, that scares me considerably.

Im a novice when it comes to politics as I have only been paying attention for the last 5 years. That being said It does appear that the American people are realizing the parties are not looking out for their best interest. In both the main parties you see a lack of unity to degree's many have not seen in a long time. The DNC is rifted clearly and the GOP rhino's are further from the conservatives as well. Maybe that is why a brash guy like Trump is resonating! He is far from the status quo for any party and people seek a new direction. I guess time will tell.

a reply to: sirlancelot

It's understandable that those who are new to politics would fall for it. You've been brainwashed your entire life to accept and believe in it.

I was there once. Hell, I even ran for state office once. After I saw the absolute corruption that exists even at the third-party level I swore off partisanship forever.

Just remember this in 2020. That's all I ask. Remember the dialogue--who was saying what, how it was being said, and the context in which it was said--and I guarantee you it will all be nearly identical in four years.

They are counting on you to have the attention span of a goldfish and the memory of Ronald Reagan.

a reply to: NthOther

I can only speak for myself, but as a libertarian. I don't blame the system for being corrupt against third parties. They have a nice solid duopoly going on, and it's not in their best interest to allow more voices in the ring. It would be another party to buy off, and they can, but it's easier for them not to.

I blame the american voters for being biased against Libertarians. They get stuck in these political hamster wheels where they believe they MUST vote for who they percieve to be the lesser evil, and never give other candidates a chance. Even if Libertarians lose the election, if we can collect a large enough voter base, then we can participate in all the official bullspit that is duopolized. Even if political Libertarians are also corrupt, the exposure would be a godsend. The Libertarian phosophy combines every good belief from the main parties without all the tag along bull#. We are diligently plotting to take over the world and leave you alone.

America will not improve overnight. However, I am certain that if it is to recover, the first step on that road is to end our Duopoly Dictatorship. That is why Im libertarian. We need more hats in the ring. Because no one can stand against Coke or Pepsi as they stand today. But the Libertarian party is our vehicle to end their absolute control of all things political in the US. This will be my first presidential election, and I can say with great pride that I will literally never in my life vote Red or Blue. I WILL NOT GIVE THEM MY CONSENT. Instead, I can always say: "Frak the President! I voted for assassinations."

In closing: Trump is not a conservative, and taxation is theft.

a reply to: NthOther

and the memory of Ronald Reagan.

Shhhhh, is that the peel of Heavenly Trumpets I hear?

a reply to: MayanBoricua

But cola itself is the problem. The brand is meaningless.

And I'm sorry to say it, but that includes Libertarians too. They function no differently. They are just as evil and corrupt as the "duopoly". If you think cronyism is bad now, just wait until the cold day in Hell a Libertarian is elected to national office.

Ho-ly s#.

a reply to: NthOther

I agree. Cola is bad. I do not think Libertatians are our saviour. I believe they are the first vehicle of our liberation. They have the potential to end the Duopoly, and I shall support them rabidly until they do. Once they do, we can go on from there. All politicians are scum. Except one. And it ain't Trump. Or Sanders.

a reply to: MayanBoricua

What's to keep it from becoming a "tri-opoly" at that point?

We currently have the choice between a crap sandwich and a giant douche. Throw a Libertarian into the national mix, and you'll end up with a crap sandwich, a giant douche, and maybe a porn addict.

Having more options isn't beneficial when the new options suck just as bad as the old ones. It simply enhances the illusion of choice and entrenches our enemies.

a reply to: NthOther

You are absolutely drop dead, spot on correct.
Politics in the US is an endless re-run of the same circus show put on for no other reason than to encourage the masses to vote and then, to produce the result previously agreed upon by the elites.

Where there will be disastrous change will be with the Supreme Court. That's the change to keep an eye on.

a reply to: NthOther

With more and more options, the barriers for entry becomes smaller. And provides more opportunities for good people to make it through.
There is a good chance that a tripoly would emerge. I wouldn't be a Libertarian at that point.

You sound hopeless. Like a terminal pessimist.

a reply to: NthOther

In 4 years, we'll be poorer, have less freedoms, have more laws, government will be bigger.

I might be dead.

I'm old and I don't take good care of myself.

So you guys will be on your own.

Sorry.

The republican party will move towards populist nationalism and away from the GOP's version of free trade(cronyism) and towards maximizing citizens employment and wages, This version of populism will endorse traditional values while at the same time minimizing the theocratic notions. It will endorse the idea that the US is not just a country but a set of ideas and values, a single culture that should not be destroyed by multiculturalism.
The goal of this ideological move will be to consolidate the white vote even further by picking up the unionized whites.

The democratic party will move farther towards multiculturalism and globalism, attempt to find, identify, import, and sway more victim classes. They will lean further to stein's platform to pick up college aged but this will be at the expense of unionized working whites. The biggest goal for democrats will be to get another amnesty passed, with no immigration fixes so we can do another amnesty in 15 years like we have been doing.

After weed is legalized the Libertarians will be trying to stand on an open borders free trade policy. But like usual, they lack the passion, the leaders, the emotional connectivity to voters. Open borders support will continue to shrink, globalism support will continue to shrink. The libertarian moment has passed. The current polling for libertarians is due to disgust of the choices, not so much support. I hope they get the 5% for funding.

originally posted by: MayanBoricua

You sound hopeless. Like a terminal pessimist.

When it comes to this country's sociopolitical future, you're right--I don't have much hope.

I just don't see where optimism is warranted. Look at us. Every election is a step backwards. We are devolving, or regressing back to a time when tyranny was a staple of everyday life.

originally posted by: DBCowboy

I might be dead.

We may all be if we're not careful.