Is the Upcoming U.S. Election That Bad?

[The New Communist Order]

As a majority of us here can agree the two candidates we have put forth as options to vote for (and yes we the American people did so during our ridiculous primaries) are not very good options. Their campaigns up to this point have been total trainwrecks and it seems most of us going to vote are going to pick the lesser of two evils when doing so. But are we overexaggerating just how awful all of this is? If we think about it our government is set up to where the President has very little power compared to the likes of Congress and the Supreme Court and can do nothing without their approval. Of course you could then say well Congress is a garbage fire but then why put so much emphasis on this election? I truly feel that the next President we elect will be a bad one but not one of the worst, how quickly can we forget the likes of John Adams, James Buchanan, and Jimmy Carter, far worse Presidents than I could see either of the candidates being. I just simply believe this is being blown out of proportion and would like to know what you guys think.

[Len Hyet]

As a majority of us here can agree the two candidates we have put forth as options to vote for (and yes we the American people did so during our ridiculous primaries) are not very good options.

Accurate if simplistic.

Their campaigns up to this point have been total trainwrecks and it seems most of us going to vote are going to pick the lesser of two evils when doing so.

See above.

But are we overexaggerating just how awful all of this is?

No

If we think about it our government is set up to where the President has very little power compared to the likes of Congress and the Supreme Court and can do nothing without their approval.

Sets Federal Policy, writes bills into law, sets legislative policy, writes executive orders, is Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, nominates Judges, nominates Justices.

Of course you could then say well Congress is a garbage fire but then why put so much emphasis on this election?

Congress is a garbage fire.

I truly feel that the next President we elect will be a bad one but not one of the worst, how quickly can we forget the likes of John Adams, James Buchanan, and Jimmy Carter, far worse Presidents than I could see either of the candidates being.

None of whom are widely regarded as awful presidents, at worst they are regarded ambivalently.

I just simply believe this is being blown out of proportion and would like to know what you guys think.

I think I'm looking at Canadian citizenship requirements.

[Implacable Death]

I think I'm looking at Canadian citizenship requirements.

So you'd emigrate if Trump wins? Am I reading that right?

If so, then I lament the state of America.

Apparently you don't love America enough to stand by it even if it goes wrong, in your eyes. No, you'd rather just leave. You'd return just as soon as Trump sat out his term, too?

[Kazarogkai]

I was looking forward to my first vote. I'm not planning on voting in november, fuck hilary(and trump for that matter).

[Imperial States America]

I was looking forward to my first vote. I'm not planning on voting in november, fuck hilary(and trump for that matter).

You could vote third party or even for a write in

[DrWinner]

I was looking forward to my first vote. I'm not planning on voting in november, fuck hilary(and trump for that matter).

Vote third party. While it might not win, it will show that that third party is gaining political clout among Americans, and that, perhaps in an election or two, said third party will be a serious contender for POTUS.

((Gary Johnson, 2k16. Libertarians.))

[Implacable Death]

I was looking forward to my first vote. I'm not planning on voting in november, fuck hilary(and trump for that matter).

Vote third party. While it might not win, it will show that that third party is gaining political clout among Americans, and that, perhaps in an election or two, said third party will be a serious contender for POTUS.

((Gary Johnson, 2k16. Libertarians.))

Sending a message doesn't work in a bipartisan system. Both parties know that such a third party will never ever ever be a threat.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Yes, it's awful.

[The Boras]

In terms of dirty tricks used and shots fired by both the candidates, we've had worse before. Who could forget the time the Committee to Re-elect the President (a.k.a Nixon cronies) faked a scandal so that Edmund Muskie would fall from his mantle as the favourite to win the Dem. nomination in 1972? Or the time Harry Truman said "If you vote for Richard Nixon, you oughta go to Hell!"

In terms of policies, then who knows. I'm inclined to think it'd just be the one where nothing is changed (especially if Hillary's elected), but hey that's just my gut feel.

[Len Hyet]

I think I'm looking at Canadian citizenship requirements.

So you'd emigrate if Trump wins? Am I reading that right?

If so, then I lament the state of America.

Apparently you don't love America enough to stand by it even if it goes wrong, in your eyes. No, you'd rather just leave. You'd return just as soon as Trump sat out his term, too?

K

[Minivanistan]

I was looking forward to my first vote. I'm not planning on voting in november, fuck hilary(and trump for that matter).

If you dont mind a little advice, perhaps you should look beyond the presidency at the rest of the ticket you would be marking.
Depending upon party and ideology, you may consider holding your nose and voting the whole ticket according to a general pov of your ideals.
The president elect isnt the only one on the ballot, and there are others on the ticket who may better promote your ideals and perhaps curb the damage potential of a bad executive idealogue.
Just food for thought.

[The New Sea Territory]

Uh....yeah.

[The New Sea Territory]

Apparently you don't love America enough to stand by it even if it goes wrong, in your eyes. No, you'd rather just leave. You'd return just as soon as Trump sat out his term, too?

Perhaps some of us are not drunk on patriotism?

[The first Galactic Republic]

An online forum like this isn't going to be the best place to ask.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Yes.

It's a freaking horrible landfill nuclear explosion.

[Minivanistan]

An online forum like this isn't going to be the best place to ask.

That is a very astute obsvervation.

[Implacable Death]

Apparently you don't love America enough to stand by it even if it goes wrong, in your eyes. No, you'd rather just leave. You'd return just as soon as Trump sat out his term, too?

Perhaps some of us are not drunk on patriotism?

Implying that I am. I'm not even American. You know, in a sense, people who would leave America only because of Trump are as bad as the military-aged men who are migrating to Europe for the free money. They'd rather go elsewhere rather than work on their own country. Assuming that's their true motive, of course.

[Eol Sha]

As a majority of us here can agree the two candidates we have put forth as options to vote for (and yes we the American people did so during our ridiculous primaries) are not very good options. Their campaigns up to this point have been total trainwrecks and it seems most of us going to vote are going to pick the lesser of two evils when doing so. But are we overexaggerating just how awful all of this is? If we think about it our government is set up to where the President has very little power compared to the likes of Congress and the Supreme Court and can do nothing without their approval. Of course you could then say well Congress is a garbage fire but then why put so much emphasis on this election? I truly feel that the next President we elect will be a bad one but not one of the worst, how quickly can we forget the likes of John Adams, James Buchanan, and Jimmy Carter, far worse Presidents than I could see either of the candidates being. I just simply believe this is being blown out of proportion and would like to know what you guys think.

I'd suggest reading up on the concept of the imperial presidency. The Presidency is nowhere as weak as it used to be. If anything, the Presidency, or, more accurately, the executive branch, is as powerful as it has ever been. And it's made stronger by a dysfunctional Congress

[The first Galactic Republic]

An online forum like this isn't going to be the best place to ask.

That is a very astute obsvervation.

I mean it's almost daily that the mods have to warn someone for using "Drumpf" or "Shillary".

[Khadgar]

As a majority of us here can agree the two candidates we have put forth as options to vote for (and yes we the American people did so during our ridiculous primaries) are not very good options. Their campaigns up to this point have been total trainwrecks and it seems most of us going to vote are going to pick the lesser of two evils when doing so. But are we overexaggerating just how awful all of this is? If we think about it our government is set up to where the President has very little power compared to the likes of Congress and the Supreme Court and can do nothing without their approval. Of course you could then say well Congress is a garbage fire but then why put so much emphasis on this election? I truly feel that the next President we elect will be a bad one but not one of the worst, how quickly can we forget the likes of John Adams, James Buchanan, and Jimmy Carter, far worse Presidents than I could see either of the candidates being. I just simply believe this is being blown out of proportion and would like to know what you guys think.

I'd suggest reading up on the concept of the imperial presidency. The Presidency is nowhere as weak as it used to be. If anything, the Presidency, or, more accurately, the executive branch, is as powerful as it has ever been. And it's made stronger by a dysfunctional Congress

The GOP's ill advised stonewalling of Obama has caused Obama to gain power which is a bit of delicious irony.

[Eol Sha]

I was looking forward to my first vote. I'm not planning on voting in november, fuck hilary(and trump for that matter).

Vote third party. While it might not win, it will show that that third party is gaining political clout among Americans, and that, perhaps in an election or two, said third party will be a serious contender for POTUS.

((Gary Johnson, 2k16. Libertarians.))

No, Americans won't. Protest votes are just that. Protest votes. They aren't necessarily endorsements of a third party's policies, let alone its ideology. All it is is a vote against the current political regime. Nothing more and nothing less. Thinking that protest voting this year will lead to increased support for said party above, say, 2% is ludicrous and an example of wishful thinking and cognitive dissonance.

History bares out that relatively successful third party runs don't lead to a breakup of the two-party system.

[Rangila]

No. The only people who think it is are the morons making memes saying "that moment when you have to choose between Hillary or trump! bshahahhahahahaaha!

Or the other idiots going "I will leave if trump wins! Trumps a racist1!!!1111!!!!!"

[The first Galactic Republic]

As a majority of us here can agree the two candidates we have put forth as options to vote for (and yes we the American people did so during our ridiculous primaries) are not very good options. Their campaigns up to this point have been total trainwrecks and it seems most of us going to vote are going to pick the lesser of two evils when doing so. But are we overexaggerating just how awful all of this is? If we think about it our government is set up to where the President has very little power compared to the likes of Congress and the Supreme Court and can do nothing without their approval. Of course you could then say well Congress is a garbage fire but then why put so much emphasis on this election? I truly feel that the next President we elect will be a bad one but not one of the worst, how quickly can we forget the likes of John Adams, James Buchanan, and Jimmy Carter, far worse Presidents than I could see either of the candidates being. I just simply believe this is being blown out of proportion and would like to know what you guys think.

I'd suggest reading up on the concept of the imperial presidency. The Presidency is nowhere as weak as it used to be. If anything, the Presidency, or, more accurately, the executive branch, is as powerful as it has ever been. And it's made stronger by a dysfunctional Congress

How is it made stronger by a dysfunctional congress?

[Implacable Death]

Vote third party. While it might not win, it will show that that third party is gaining political clout among Americans, and that, perhaps in an election or two, said third party will be a serious contender for POTUS.

((Gary Johnson, 2k16. Libertarians.))

No, Americans won't. Protest votes are just that. Protest votes. They aren't necessarily endorsements of a third party's policies, let alone its ideology. All it is is a vote against the current political regime. Nothing more and nothing less. Thinking that protest voting this year will lead to increased support for said party above, say, 2% is ludicrous and an example of wishful thinking and cognitive dissonance.

History bares out that relatively successful third party runs don't lead to a breakup of the two-party system.

Why is there even a bipartisan system to begin with?

[Washington Resistance Army]

No, Americans won't. Protest votes are just that. Protest votes. They aren't necessarily endorsements of a third party's policies, let alone its ideology. All it is is a vote against the current political regime. Nothing more and nothing less. Thinking that protest voting this year will lead to increased support for said party above, say, 2% is ludicrous and an example of wishful thinking and cognitive dissonance.

History bares out that relatively successful third party runs don't lead to a breakup of the two-party system.

Why is there even a bipartisan system to begin with?

FPTP encourages it.