Are Americans really impatient with politicians, expecting them to fix problems instantly? Or are politicians intentionally sabotaging change?

[Anonymous]

After Trump won in 2024, I keep hearing this idea over and over again that Americans expected instant solutions to solve problems and got impatient with the Democrats for not acting fast enough, so they turned to Trump. A similar argument played out how dissatisfaction with Obama’s 2 terms led to Trump 1.0.

But on Jon Stewart’s podcast, Sherril and Spanberger talked in detail about how the House leaders of both parties intentionally sabotaged any effort to enact meaningful legislation, such as a bill that would help veterans. Biden did in fact end up signing that bill—6 years after Spanberger introduced in the house.

So, is it true that Americans are in fact just too impatient with politicians, expecting everything solved overnight? Or are the politicians intentionally sabotaging and procrastinating much needed change, thereby testing the voters’ patience?

[Effably]

In general, yes. Responsible nationwide policies should be counted in decades, not singular years. The 4 year limit is already damaging, although I am not arguing it should be increased.

That said, at least with the current administration lack of patience is sensible. Multiple day one promises. The fastest accumulation of debt in a long time. Rampant criminality. Starving their own people and fighting the courts to be allowed to keep doing it. Illegal tariffs that they fight the courts for claiming the world will lose respect for USA if they have to go back on the unlawfully imposed tariffs, the list goes on.

At this point I am willing to say they are too patient. Although I think it is more likely an international degree of anhedonia causing people to not react.

[boundless]

You propaganda source speaks out of both sides of his mouth and you don't catch on... How can John Stewart criticized MAGA supporters, referring to them as a cult-like group due to their unwavering loyalty to Trump and the movement's ideologies one moment and then the next moment state Americans expected instant solutions to solve problems and got impatient with the Democrats for not acting fast enough, so they turned to Trump. Which one is it, are they infinitely patient or are they impatient? Are they cult members or are they fickle? John Stewart use to tell jokes, now he just is a joke. Why you'd actually take anything he says serious is beyond me. The guy is full of shit.

[Anonymous]

Impatient? He said prices will go down on "day one". Prices have done nothing by skyrocketed and it is day 310.

[exitseven]

Democrats have been screaming that America is not affordable. When Biden was President they did not say a work about 5 bucks a gallon for gas or a 9.9% inflation rate
The truth is that gas prices are the lowest in 4 years and inflation has been between 2.5% and 3%.
Prices are not likely to go down much but this is what President Trump inherited from the previous administration.
things are better than they were and will continue to get better but it has been 10 months and progress has been made but the prices will never be when they were before Biden became president and caused them to double in 4 years.

[Chazmatazz269]

Both are true. The American demand for instant gratification is very real. The corruption of the deep state is also very real. Add to this already disastrous combination that it’s much easier to fool the average person than it is to convince them that they have been fooled, and the politicians pretending to be at odds with each other just can’t lose no matter which “party” is in charge.
We are doomed.

[genericname85]

i think the dumb thing with americans is that they still believe that anything will ever get "fixed" instead of worse with politics. like have you been reading any history on politics? it doesn't get better without vilence. it only ever gets worse up until that point.

[Asker]

I have read history. The New Deal was implemented after the ‘29 crash. The closest that we ever got to violence was the bank runs. Even though the ND did not end the depression until the 1940s, Roosevelt managed to win reelection 3 more times because the ND was able to let millions of Americans keep their financial heads above water, preventing anarchy and violence.

[genericname85]

keeping ones heads above water and "improvement" isn't synonymous in my mind.