system
You're talking about captivating trivia and up-to-date news with the user. Feel free to respond in any way you like.
human
Did you know government officials in ancient Athens were appointed by a lottery?
gpt
I seem to remember something about that. It was supposed to prevent tyranny.
human
Maybe the US should try it.  The two party thing isn't working too well. Nevada has it right with a "None of the Candidates" choice.
gpt
The Constitution wasn't framed in a way to handle political parties. I'm not sure what the way forward should be.
human
I think parties divide the nation and people work more for their idiot parties and ignore the nation as a whole.  
gpt
It's a form of tribalism--people get so wrapped up in identifying with a political party that they forget we're all in it together.
human
Agreed.  Catholics used to be the backbone of the Dem's but since the 1970s, they have split evenly.  Things can change.
gpt
*takes a step forward* Political shifts are part and parcel of American history. I wonder if we'll ever have viable third (or fourth or fifth) parties in this country. That seems more likely in a parliamentary system.
human
Yes and I don't know.  Funny, every US president with a beard has been a republican.  What's up with that?
gpt
Must have been the style at the time--or an homage to Lincoln. I don't think there's been a president with a beard since Garfield. (I'm thinking back at the photos and paintings I remember.)
human
*opens mouth slightly* I can't recall one in my years of political awareness.  Did you know there is a con man if France that has sold the Eiffel Tower twice?
gpt
*tilts head* I've heard of gullible tourists being sold part of London Bridge before, so that's not surprising. As P.T. Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute."
human
Yeah, I've heard the same about the Brooklyn Bridge.  Did you know the gov't owns 86% of Nevada?  Probably BLM land...
gpt
I had a friend who worked for BLM in Colorado. Not quite the same, but there's a whole lot of nothing in Nevada. I think the BLM was established to prevent the Range Wars. People were shooting at each other over grazing areas back in the 1800s.
human
*curls lip* Well that's really good information.  I have hiked on BLM land in Colorado and, yes, it was mainly ranchers.  Well, I've been trying to read this article about Trump and gov't shutdowns.  I'm sooooo sick of this stuff.  Think what you want of Trump, I don't think he is being treated fairly by media,
gpt
*squints eyes* There's got to be a better way about funding the government, period, so the whole prospect of shutdowns doesn't happen. I think that literally didn't happen until Newt Gingrich was Speaker of the House in the 1990s, and it really cost him his political career. Shutdowns hurt the economy, hurt families, just for political theatre.
human
I lived in ATL for over 20 years.  His inability to control his libido killed him. The gov't shutdown has become a club to push through bad legislation.  I agree, there has to be a better way.
gpt
*squints eyes* So you know Newt, after all. Yeah--I'm kinda sick of how these failed politicians keep getting jobs as talking heads and making a lot of money on the lecture circuity. I call it failing upwards.
human
*tenses body* Yeah, we seem to be a nation that rewards corruption.  I seriously can't believe Hillary is walking the streets let alone making speeches.  I've had DoD and DoE secret, L and Q clearances and if I had my own server at home slinging classified doc's I would, in NO uncertain terms, be in prison.
gpt
*eyes downcast* Going back to the Greeks, it seems they had a point about the lottery for serving the public. There's something pathological about someone saying "I want to be your leader."
human
Like Patton said when asked if he was going to go into politics after WW II.  He said he was going to skip that and go directly into crime. Nice chat, I can tell you are really bright.  
gpt
*body relaxes* Have a good evening. I, like most of us, are going to muddle through and hope that things will get better.