I think the real problem is that most people want the government to be responsible for everything, and they still want freedom. You just cannot have both. You either have freedom, with all of the problems that come from that OR you have government rule with all of the problems that come from THAT.
Shorts Momma, I'm not quite sure about this. I for one would like a gov't to live up to its promises, not just use rhetoric. Unfortunately power corrupts & so on..
As it is we (the populace) seem to have an unwritten compact with politicians, they get to do what they want whilst elected & we rarely call them out over their actions, whilst they are in power - this is the job of the "free" press, when they can tear themselves away from stories about fluffy bog rolls.
The job of govt is to govern, for the benefit of society as a whole, not the special interest group paying their 401K or pension. Politician means man of the people, it is their job to present the people and their views to the govt (not the views of the "special" friends paying their 401K or pension). The job of the people is to express their will and opinion to their elected officials & hold them accountable for poor performance, financial misdoings etc. The problem is that we don't.
I think that I am amongst a majority that is jaded with the political horse trading system, whichever country you're in - but I don't know how to change it anymore. I can't trust those grown by the system, I don't trust those in the system & I don't ever want to see those that were in the system! I believe in democracy and its principles, I believe in the people that support them, I switch the light off when it comes to the donkeys that lead us.
Enough rant, certain rights are guaranteed by each country' constitution, we have to accept that they apply to people that disagree with us. They apply to rapists, bankers, armed robbers and to terrorists. Does this make us weak - No, does this make us vulnerable - yes, but we set a standard and we have to walk the walk as well as talk it. I think everyone forgets that politics is now a career & everyone wants to get on in their career.