I'm aware of the issues. However, the idea that the "trickle down" economy is going to work needs to be debunked. It hasn't and it won't.
When our elected officials are running for office, they spend so much time telling us why the other guy is wrong without ever saying one word as to what THEIR platform is. Also, both sides take advantage of two things. The first is that neither side does a whole lot of serious thinking or researching. Second, they know (on both sides) that there are certain knee-jerk issues they can use to bury any discussion on truly substantive issues. That is why I am in favor of a clean slate come 2014. Not a single incumbent. However, these clowns can't even pass comprehensive campaign reform legislation.
Another issue is the idea of elected legislator as career choice. That was never the intention of the Founding Fathers.
There is much needed reform, but as long as both sides can keep pulling out the knee-jerk issues and keep the electorate from making truly informed choices (which isn't hard to do in the internet age), it will never, ever happen. Yes, I am a liberal. However, I am critical enough of both sides to keep myself informed, rather than enamored of some ideology.
Regarding DoD spending....remember, I am a retired Navy wife. I can tell you stories of the waste on just the ships my husband was on. It was incredible. Millions of dollars per cruise. I do believe that there are certain things that do not need to be in the public realm, for security reasons, however, transparency in the budget would be nice. That 1500.00 toilet? Well, that is the cost after the negociations, the design, the engineering, the inspecting...and if you're on the USS George HW Bush (CVN-77), they don't work anyway. For a very coherent description of why these things cost so much, I highly recommend a book titled "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich and Leo Janos. You should be able to find it on Amazon. Also, research the TQM methods made popular by a man named Deming (I don't remember his first name now).
I do not hold out any hope for any sort of change. All I can see is more polarization, more division, more knee-jerk opposition. All those single issue voters need to realize there's a whole lot more than just their pet issue at stake during every election cycle.
hey...but what do I know....I'm just a stupid stay at home mom....