no big shock - times they are a-changin - Printable Version
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no big shock - times they are a-changin - flash - 11-08-2012
lol - that's what i've been saying.
no big shock - times they are a-changin - 968Syncro - 11-08-2012
This partisanship has always been a major problem for our elected officials since they are beholden to many competing groups. When it is time to make a decision, the effects can create conflicts among these groups or interests. For example, should a congressman or senator:
- 1. favor the best interest of the nation?
- 2. favor their home state?
- 3. favor their party (if they have joined one)?
- 4. favor themselves as an individual?
IMHO our elected officials put 4. as the highest priority, then 3. as the next highest priority We hired them to always put 1. and 2. as the highest priority, and that the reason that Washington is in gridlock.
Roland
no big shock - times they are a-changin - Cloud9...68 - 11-08-2012
[quote name='968Syncro' timestamp='1352400938' post='134607']
This partisanship has always been a major problem for our elected officials since they are beholden to many competing groups. When it is time to make a decision, the effects can create conflicts among these groups or interests. For example, should a congressman or senator:
- 1. favor the best interest of the nation?
- 2. favor their home state?
- 3. favor their party (if they have joined one)?
- 4. favor themselves as an individual?
IMHO our elected officials put 4. as the highest priority, then 3. as the next highest priority We hired them to always put 1. and 2. as the highest priority, and that the reason that Washington is in gridlock.
Roland
[/quote]
Well put. If only we could put together a list of goals for congress to achieve by the end of each year, with a stipulation that if they aren't acheived, the entire congress is ineligible for reelection. That's pretty much how performance reviews work in the private sector, after all. The difficulty here would be, who would have the authority to hold congress accountable?
no big shock - times they are a-changin - 968Syncro - 11-08-2012
[quote name='Cloud9...68' timestamp='1352410261' post='134613']
The difficulty here would be, who would have the authority to hold congress accountable?
[/quote]
That is the key weakness in the democratic process ... or advantageous loophole for elected officials. Sure, we like to think, or we are told to believe, that we have the power of the vote -- that we can control the congress through our power of the vote.
But that is untrue, we do not have this ability, simply because politicians rarely do what they promised during the campaign.
The only power we have left is: to "not re-elect" someone. (Which of course is a very weak power -- take action after the damage is done).
I can only think back to my schooling (US indoctrination), when we were all trained to believe that our elected officials were "statesmen", the highest honor, men of integrity. "When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school!" (Paul Simon)
Oh well ... it really doesn't matter. The real power isn't really in the legislative or executive branches anyway, it now lies with the PACS, unions, lobbyists, 1%, elite, (and thanks to Roberts) corporations. Smart people figured out this out some decades ago that the real power lies outside of the formal government channels.
Like they say: "You should never want to know what goes on behind the scenes in sausage making and politics."
no big shock - times they are a-changin - Rap - 11-08-2012
You can't close the border to drugs. How about we have a national debate on the legalization of certain drugs? Want to raise revenue? For those of you who know me this isn't heresy but rather lets have open discussion about solutions. I don't like the idea about encouraging violation of laws but in the mid 80's we gave amnesty and a pathway to illegal immigrants. Many worked for me in DC. Want to expand the middle class and help fix social security? But we can't encourage a mass tidal wave of illegal immigrants who will overburden our welfare system through systematic propagation. There needs to be clearly understood and enforced laws regarding this.
As long as we elect human beings to office we will suffer from human dynamics. Self interest is culturally and genetically ingrained. The only way to limit, not stop, self interest is to limit the opportunity. Term limits can do this. Also make Congress enjoy the same benefits and laws as the rest of us. A term in Congress should not entitle one to financial and benefit award.
no big shock - times they are a-changin - Monstrous4Banger - 11-09-2012
Romney was a joke. If the gop had been serious about winning, they wouldnt have cheated, yes cheated Ron Paul out of the nom. Cant say Paul supporters didnt tell ya so. The republicans werent even very sly about it. Sigh, its all just smoke n mirrors. Most of us Paul supporters are young, and we will not forget how the gop treated us as new comers. Will we forgive? Dunno, the republican party may be doomed, and it only has itself to blame, by phasing itself out by being less, and less in touch with the avg person. They are too busy telling us what to think, and not busy enough listening to what we tell them. Not a recipe for success for a political party in a free society.
Why not the Libertarian party? There are actually choices outside the 2 party paradigm, but the controlled media barely even mentions them...unless its to defame them, and snicker at them. People are going to have to stop getting their facts from the idiot box/govt, and start getting them from science, and mathematics for themselves. Just about anything you could ever want to know about anything is just a google search away. Which brings me tot he "drug war"(thank Nixon, who was another cheating republican). The drug war, and the drug scheduling is based on the opinion of a few active zealots(much like prohibition), and from a scientific perspective makes zero sense. "War" in general is what is really breaking the bank. Both these unconstitutional ie: illegal POLICE ACTIONS in the middle east, and the domestic wars we are fighting against the will, and liberty of our own people called the drug war. Congress decides when we go to war, and who lives, and who dies, not the president, and his admin. That is what dictators do like the last 2 presidents have been, dictators. Their actions are not indicative of leaders of free men. There has not been an actually legal war in this country for 70 years. We are a country run by criminal thugs, and most people dont want to admit it. Its little more than a global crime syndicate at this point, and we wonder why anyone would want to retaliate for occupying their land. Its like running up to a bee hive, kicking it, and wondering why the bees are stinging you. Its called "blowback". Not only do have no place policing the world, but we cant afford it either.
Abolish the the fed reserve, and their personal thugs, the IRS. Income tax is a voluntary tax, and must be apportioned per the constitution. Currently our income tax goes to paying the interest rate on our debt to the fed. So, let me see if I got this right.....instead of printing our own money, we pay a private central bank to do it for us, and they dictate our rates to us?!?!?! Set up an IRS to shake us all down, and make sure were paying those international bankers interests? Were being robbed, and enslaved to pay for something that makes no logical sense. And also again unconstitutional. Only the govt has the power to print money, not banker thugs. How will we pay for everything without federal income tax you say?? Considering its not apportioned back to the people any way...dont see how it matters much. We flourished for 125+ plus years without it. Tax the Chinese for importing their garbage. Tariffs and duties alone could be enough to fund a downsized federal govt. Cut the salaries of the crooks in office. Make it voluntary, with no chance of profit. Those positions shouldnt be looked at as potential profits, but a voluntary public service. There is so much more we can do, besides voluntarily enslave ourselves to a central bank.
We dont need foreign oil. Its a farce!!! Petrol fuels are so 1800's. We can grow our own fuel, and live off the reserves we have for many generations, until it is completely phased out. The biggest thing holding back these renewable fuels, is that most of the people with the money are vested in the competition. From a chemical point of view, its amazing to me people even debate about what we know to be fact.
Socialism, Marxism, Capitalism? Little bit of all. Free market capitalism? Not even close.
The very concept of wealth distribution is purely Marxist. Bailing out the banks, big auto, etc? Yep...socialism. Its important to not forget the previous dictator who made sure to put those bail outs into motion right before Barry was sworn in. Theyre both Socialists, and antagonistic to the constitution from my view.
"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." Karl Marx, "the Communist Manifesto"
If you dont think Barry has Marxist leanings.... Id be willing to bet you havent hung out in South Chicago much.
no big shock - times they are a-changin - ds968 - 11-09-2012
Bit of a sidetrack, but how does a Congress with the lowest approval rating in US history ( 10 % ) get 96 % re-elected.. amidst supposedly the strongest anti-incumbent sentiments expressed by the voting population of both parties ..? Is it a " - yeah, but not in my backyard " mentality ?
no big shock - times they are a-changin - kzem1 - 11-09-2012
As I said before, TERM LIMITS FOR ALL! I think that would go a long way. Read, "Throw Them All Out". If you thought you knew about the coruption in Washington, you don't until you read that book. It is unbelievable what the ruling class does at the expense of the rest of us. Laws that we have to abide by they are exempt from. What would put you and I in jail just fattens their wallets. Obama's net worth has gone from 1m to over 10m during the last four years. How is that possible for a guy who makes $200k a year? I wish I had his investment guy. lol Congress is much worse!! While I don't agree with many of Paul's views, I completely agree with his fiscal stance. The Fed needs to be audited, the facts brought into light, and then shut down. They are stealing from the America people. They print money, hand it do the banks at 0% interest, then the banks loan it back to the government at 3%. Yes. The banks are making money off of your money, and the taxpayer has to pay the interest. No wonder they don't make loans anymore. Why bother when you can make money, with other peoles money, with no risk, off of the taxpayer. I too believe Obama is a Marxist. Maybe worse. Look at what his parents, grandparents, friends and role models were. Communists. The "Dreams from My Father" is redistributing the wealth not from the rich in America to the poor, but from the Rich of America to the 3rd world countries. He believes Great Britain and America stole the wealth of the 3rd world countries and it is his job to give it back. Why do you think he supports global taxes, global governance, drilling overseas in places like Brazil over America. Read his book. It is pretty clear. And IMO, sad for America. But hey, I just work at a golf course so I am sure there are plenty of people on here smarter than me with more insight on what is happening.
no big shock - times they are a-changin - flash - 11-09-2012
the president gets $400k now, but i get your point
no big shock - times they are a-changin - ds968 - 11-09-2012
Absolutely agree with term limits, in addition to elimination of the absurd entitlements they currently enjoy, but my question was not soliciting a solution to that issue, it was more an expression of puzzlement ( and disappointment ) that a country who apparently holds Congress in contempt more than ever before still goes out and votes essentially all of them right back in ! WTF ?!
no big shock - times they are a-changin - flash - 11-09-2012
it's because we don't have a choice of "none of the above"
no big shock - times they are a-changin - Lear35A - 11-09-2012
Actually a voter does. Write-ins are allowed. And actually (at the local level) that can make a difference.
no big shock - times they are a-changin - kzem1 - 11-09-2012
I didn't know he got a raise. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.png" class="smilie" alt="" /> I know Congress gave themselves one though!! If they were in the private sector they would be fired!! I also can't understand how these people, on both sides, continue to get re-elected. I would like to see the entire Congress flipped by people running on the stance that they will pass term limits when they get in office. Yes. I know that is fatasy land. LOL
no big shock - times they are a-changin - flash - 11-09-2012
a write in is not the same as "none of the above". none of the above, done correctly, would count as a negative vote against all candidates, removing 1 vote from each. alternatively it could be counted as an equal negative portion, based on how many candidates on the ballot. (2 candidates = 1/2 vote each, 3 = 1/3, etc)
nevada almost has that, but they stopped short of actually making it work. it figures that the republicans are the ones who are against this option. follow the money.
we really need this option. it would allow the voters to remove the professional politicians from office and replace them with true representatives.
no big shock - times they are a-changin - 94SilverCab - 11-09-2012
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/presidentialpay.htm
President's salary has been $400k since 1/1/2001...poor bastards haven't had a raise in 11 years.
Jay
no big shock - times they are a-changin - ds968 - 12-27-2015
With all of the insane, unprecedented upside-down weather patterns around the entire world this year, after seeing this political cartoon I thought I'd share ..
no big shock - times they are a-changin - Bulti - 12-27-2015
Tomorrow I will mow the lawn. On the 28th of December.
We are all going to die.
no big shock - times they are a-changin - ds968 - 12-27-2015
Well, yes ....eventually .
no big shock - times they are a-changin - Bulti - 12-28-2015
I knéw you'd say that :-)