Our national infrastructure is crumbling, our education system is second rate, we have 40 million people with no health care, over 30,000 people were killed by guns last year, jobs are disappearing by the millions and the middle along with them, Social Security and Medicare are going broke, along with a dozen or so states, and if it weren’t for China, the federal government would be broke too. Not to mention that the Browns have not won it all since ’64.It’s tough to solve any problem unless you know the root cause, so I’m taking a shot at articulating the root of all our problems in one simple (but hopefully not simplistic) statement:
“Congress is unable to solve any important problem facing the nation because they are not working on behalf of American citizens -- the largest single interest group in the country.
They don’t work for us because their number one priority is staying in office, which requires so much money that most Congressmen become captives of special interest groups, and the enormous sums of money that they provide.
The success of each legislative initiative is measured by how many, and how well, the relevant interest groups are rewarded or protected. The overall efficacy of the legislation is secondary at best.
This problem is limited to neither Republicans nor Democrats; it is systemic. By any reasonable definition, the system and the players are corrupt and ineffective.”
I realize there are members of Congress who are exceptions, but they are too few and too weak to be effective; most “reformers” and “insider-change-agents” are eventually co-opted or seduced by the money and power of the system, or just give up and enjoy the retirement benefits.
I’d love to know everyone's response to the question, “is the above statement true or false?” You may disagree that this is the root of all our problems, but still believe the statement is true. Feel free to elaborate.
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13 comments:
Yes on the state of affairs.
No on the root of the problems. I dont' give gov't that much credit--on the upside or downside.
DB- don't disagree at all with the basic premise, but would withhold condemning the majority of our elected officials as "corrupt." The self-perpetuating system is the fundamental problem, and the special interest monies that flow into it have become an evil necessity (as opposed to a necessary evil). Singapore works, but I sure wouldn't want to live there. Maybe this democracy thing needs some reinvention after 233 years. You probably wouldn't be surprised if I suggested that every voter should be given an IQ test and a brain scan before being allowed to cast a ballot.
true. not to go against the constitution but limiting the amount of money that can be spent on an election would be a good start.
True,but. Two things about corrupt politicans: most believe in what their doing & what we think is corrupt is their "way things get done." If they thought they were doing wrong both parties would have the other in jail constantly.
Some random thoughts: require voting, elect the Supreme Court, 6yr one time terms for Congress, muti-party elections funded soley & equaly through taxes, life imprisonment for misuse of office, public executions, representative government, a required class in Government at every grade level in school, the federal budget allocates funding for everyones medical,education & housing first.
You are correct on the premise and one of the major reasons. There is another problem and that is how people are elected and the electorate.
Many of the Congressional districts are so gerrymandered as to make a competitive election almost impossible. So the extremes of both parties have power and are not particularly representative of the middle. The more radical they act the better their chance of reelection.
Another is how politically uneducated the American public is. Most people maybe pay attention to a Presidential election, but the rest of the time have no clue what is going on and don't really give a damn.
We had an off year primary for Governor in VA and some areas had less than a 10% turnout.
The use of race, religion, abortion and guns by both parties has obscured the real issue of class in this country.
We created a gilded age of super wealthy as the average income of the middle class stayed stagnant and nobody cared because they were too busy worrying about banning guns and whether candidate so and so was the right kind of Christian...no Mormons need apply.
The people are smart enough, it is they don't care enough. Remember that despite the worst recession since the 30's and two wars, more people didn't bother to vote than voted for Obama.
I agree whole-heartedly. Bring on term limits, campaign finance reform and abolish Czars. Limit appointees to two consecutive two year terms, institute ground rules regarding cabinet nominees. We need to revamp the system and get back to our roots.
I agree that our representatives have failed us miserably but I also agree with KWHIT that we've allowed them to.
Publicly financed elections is certainly a good place to start. Without the pay to play system of elections, we might get representatives that will pander to the majority rather than a few moneyed interests. But make no mistake, they will pander and shamelessly. Pork won't stop flowing but I'm not sure it should. One district's pork is another district's hydroelectric dam. Just depends on what it's for.
Gaga, I agree with most except electing the Supreme Court. They are, to an extent, isolated from the political winds of the day.
I suspect if they were up for re-election and a controversial case came before them it would be damn the constitution hello another term.
After Gore v Bush, the court ruled that the case could not be used as a precedent because they knew it was a bogus decision. That case was just a bunch of Republican appointees trying to get one of theirs elected. Imagine how fast they'd say screw the law if a ruling meant they would not get re-elected.
You can see it now, "you want prayer in the public schools, vote for me and I'll rule for you."
If you are primarily representing the interests of anyone other than the American public then I think corrupt is the right word. And I think that is exactly what a majority of people in Congress do. What makes it insidious is that Pfizer doesn't say, "hey, extend my patent on these drugs another 10 years so I'll be richer." No, they say, "extend my patent because it will be better for the American people, and here's why."
This allows the legislator to look himself in the mirror and accept the cash and the plane tickets, and the birthday party-fund-raiser. But it's all Kabuki theater. Ritualized lies that put a thin veneer on the corruption.
Cuz, I think you next move would be to teach political science. It was all of us who killed change. Every dam time we thought we got it right either they died or became corrupt.I haven't heard any new ideas here in Warren Out. They are still trying to fund a blimp factory in Vienna and get the lake to river canal built.Same old song and dance from Capitol Hill.We will never change. There is no money or growth in Socialism, we won't tolerate a dictator. Capitalism is the only way to make a buck. Its just that we need more Bill Gates and less Madoff. We need more baseball players like Victor Martinez and less like Big Poppy. I'm going to try to comfort myself as I'm now proufoundly sad. Alone, vunerable all of my castles were made of sand washed away from the trail of tears from wasted youth.Realism is one giant pain in the ass.
Amen to nixing elected the Supreme Court.
To Warrenout: failure in life is a distant second to death. Just understanding missteps is more than most will ever achieve.
Our predicament also is the result of an aging society as a pioneer in this matter. We grew complacent on cheap energy, open markets and no competition. The rest of the world caught up before we made the next move.
Perhaps a third political party would do more for this country than the designated hitter did for the AL. [it should be dropped] We might be better off with a parliamentary system but it will never happen.
Inside humanity is a heart of darkness. It understands limited resources and puts the self ahead of society. We should teach the concept of limited resources to our children: it is real.
Some really heavy stuff here, and all of it right on. Hankster, I believe that our children are growing up with an acute awareness of limited resources, since they're the ones who are going to have to live with the consequences of all that we have wrought. We prospered in a non-globally competitive world and conspicuously consumed everything in sight. Now everyone else wants what we once owned. Our kids are competing with kids from the rest of the world who know more math and physics and are willing to bust their asses to succeed. While this conversation makes me sad, I am not entirely pessimistic about the future, since someone kids are going to figure it out.
Electing the Supremes makes all three branches of government separate but equal.Now we have the possibility of the same political party(choice of two) appointing the whole court.
I know it's abit of an aging fear but dont put too much faith in the young folks. College types support reforms,the environment.... Sound familiar? But most just want a job. In 2004 86.1% of kids 18-29 voted. We got Cheney's second term. Now I'm depressed.
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