Comments on: My New Feature Story in the American Prospect: “The Reality Gap” http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2011/06/13/my-new-feature-story-in-the-american-prospect-the-reality-gap/ Where science collides with life, slams into culture, crashes with politics, and gets totaled. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:28:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Wes Rolley http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2011/06/13/my-new-feature-story-in-the-american-prospect-the-reality-gap/#comment-104698 Wes Rolley Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:32:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/?p=18720#comment-104698 Like KE, I was once a Republican, back in the days when my Senator (Goldwater) and Congressman (Rhodes) understood the fact that conservation and conservative had similar meanings. Now, there are few Republicans like that. However, in many states, to declare ones self as an "independent" is to relinquish your voice... at least it is for those of us who do not have Mr. Emanuel's cv. So, after a great deal of thought, I registered Green and joined the EcoAction Committee, Green Party US. I am still not fully satisfied, but at least I don't have to make a false choice between two parties who have lost their bearings. Like KE, I was once a Republican, back in the days when my Senator (Goldwater) and Congressman (Rhodes) understood the fact that conservation and conservative had similar meanings. Now, there are few Republicans like that.

However, in many states, to declare ones self as an “independent” is to relinquish your voice… at least it is for those of us who do not have Mr. Emanuel’s cv. So, after a great deal of thought, I registered Green and joined the EcoAction Committee, Green Party US.

I am still not fully satisfied, but at least I don’t have to make a false choice between two parties who have lost their bearings.

]]> By: Incredulous http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2011/06/13/my-new-feature-story-in-the-american-prospect-the-reality-gap/#comment-104675 Incredulous Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:26:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/?p=18720#comment-104675 The biggest problem is that the two political parties have such a stranglehold that they are able to dictate all legislation. As soon as one party brings up any issue, the other party immediately takes the opposing stance just to differentiate themselves. Regardless of the issue. We just perform a litmus test on the candidates and see if the strip turns red or blue. Every voter that does not adhere to the straight Democratic or Republican ticket has been disenfranchised. There are many different issues that are not addressed reasonably. Unrelated issues have become entangled for both sides. Unless we break this deadlock, there will not be any improvement on any substantive issues. If someone without either a Democratic or Republican affiliation is elected, they have no hope of getting *anything* implemented. Even if they do have an affiliation, unless they "toe the party line," they will be frozen out of the process and have no input regardless of the wishes of their constituency. The biggest problem is that the two political parties have such a stranglehold that they are able to dictate all legislation. As soon as one party brings up any issue, the other party immediately takes the opposing stance just to differentiate themselves. Regardless of the issue. We just perform a litmus test on the candidates and see if the strip turns red or blue.

Every voter that does not adhere to the straight Democratic or Republican ticket has been disenfranchised. There are many different issues that are not addressed reasonably. Unrelated issues have become entangled for both sides. Unless we break this deadlock, there will not be any improvement on any substantive issues. If someone without either a Democratic or Republican affiliation is elected, they have no hope of getting *anything* implemented. Even if they do have an affiliation, unless they “toe the party line,” they will be frozen out of the process and have no input regardless of the wishes of their constituency.

]]> By: Nullius in Verba http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2011/06/13/my-new-feature-story-in-the-american-prospect-the-reality-gap/#comment-104659 Nullius in Verba Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:16:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/?p=18720#comment-104659 Noted. Noted.

]]> By: Chris Mooney http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2011/06/13/my-new-feature-story-in-the-american-prospect-the-reality-gap/#comment-104657 Chris Mooney Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:41:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/?p=18720#comment-104657 Nullius, this is a warning. Your comments are verging on hectoring at this point. Nullius, this is a warning. Your comments are verging on hectoring at this point.

]]> By: Nullius in Verba http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2011/06/13/my-new-feature-story-in-the-american-prospect-the-reality-gap/#comment-104643 Nullius in Verba Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:20:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/?p=18720#comment-104643 Chris, Can you show us this "back of an envelope" calculation, please? Thanks. Chris,

Can you show us this “back of an envelope” calculation, please?

Thanks.

]]>