http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra...ress-ever/

Quote:1. They’re not passing laws.

2. They’re hideously unpopular.

3. They’re incredibly polarized.

4. They’ve set back the recovery.

5. They lost our credit rating.

6. They’re terrible even when they’re “super.”

7. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal. Repeal.

8. The budget shenanigans of Senate Democrats

9. They can’t get appropriations done on time.

10. The transportation-infrastructure fiasco.

11. The FAA shutdown

12. Failing the Fed.

13. The experts agree.

14. There actually are problems they need to solve.

Among others, and supporting data.

Before this devolves into the inevitable political fight, this isn't about democrat this, republican that, those darn conservatives, or them tree-hugging liberals. This is about the piss-poor job Congress members of all spectrum have done.

Government is not a sport people. The only loser in this is the people who would seek to turn into one.

lol....Most people would probably think #1 is a good thing.

I rarely post here, but this was too good to pass up.

The entire government SUCKS to high-heaven. If we as a citizenry had any brains, we would make sure that they (1) were not considered full-time employees; they would only work 3 months out of the year to pass or repeal consequential, important legislation. (2) We would clamp down on what government CAN DO "for the people" by ensuring that they could not to too much (I personally like the idea that the government has "negative liberties") and (3) we would find more ways to keep them out of our lives by only voting for people who wanted to accomplish just that.

We The People will wind up serving The Government if we are not careful.

However, the reason they are so unpopular is due to their constant bickering and abuse of the ignorant masses in this nation. They take advantage of this ignorance by spouting forth talking points instead of using reasoned, articulate arguments to support their positions. Boehner, Biden, McConnell, Obama, Pelosi... you name it, they suck; however, ignorance and the issuance of entitlements keeps them in office year-after-year.

It will not get any better if we have a new administration in the White House, new leadership in Congress and newly appointed czars. The only way it will get any better will be if people educate themselves and learn to think before they vote.

(07-13-2012 02:30 PM)attackfrog Wrote:  lol....Most people would probably think #1 is a good thing.

Absolutely.

More laws = less liberty.

(07-13-2012 02:30 PM)attackfrog Wrote:  lol....Most people would probably think #1 is a good thing.

I agree. There are currently over 73,000 pages in the US tax code. The EPA regulations are 10s of 1000s of pages long. Then there's the FDA, SEC, and on and on. I would dare say, not a single person alive has read all the rules that dictate whether they are a criminal or not. Yet not passing more laws is a knock against congress?

One of my favorite lines from Atlas Shrugged:
“Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?” said Dr. Ferris. “We want them broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against—then you’ll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We’re after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you’d better get wise to it. There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there it that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted—and you create a nation of lawbreakers—and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Rearden, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.”

(07-13-2012 02:11 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  2. They’re hideously unpopular.

They're always unpopular. Congress virtually never has an approval rating over 40% (usually closer to 30%)... yet almost always has an incumbent reelection rate of over 80%

(07-13-2012 02:30 PM)attackfrog Wrote:  lol....Most people would probably think #1 (1. They’re not passing laws) is a good thing.

Agree...but I think a lot of young people think that Congress passes laws to "help the lil guys" when its generally the opposite.

I "wish" state/federal legislatures would take a year or two off from "passing more laws".

(07-13-2012 02:53 PM)SublimeKnight Wrote:  

(07-13-2012 02:11 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  2. They’re hideously unpopular.

They're always unpopular. Congress virtually never has an approval rating over 40% (usually closer to 30%)... yet almost always has an incumbent reelection rate of over 80%

That's because while most people think Congress as a whole can't find their *** with both hands, they really like their Congressmen and Senators.

How about they pass an f'n budget?! Id love to see all the incumbents from all parties gone. I'm so exhausted with partisan politics and how they're ruining this country. Why don't they take a pay cut if they want to help the budget?

(07-13-2012 02:44 PM)Kandy Atz Wrote:  

(07-13-2012 02:30 PM)attackfrog Wrote:  lol....Most people would probably think #1 is a good thing.

Absolutely.

More laws = less liberty.

Not really....

Many laws are passed to ensure the liberty of all...

Civil rights act of 1964

Women's suffrage

Child labor laws

.....and silly things such as ensuring that things like lead don't wind up I our kid's drinking water.

All of these things are complex issues and requires full time attention. We just need to focus on the issues again instead of trying to tear down those who disagree with us.

In addition, last time i checked......in our country we still elect our leaders...

If we don't like what is going then either exercise your right to vote (which most Americans take for granted)...or change how you vote....

to keep people from talking about the same points because they ARE NOT READING THE ARTICLE i will expand the list

(07-13-2012 02:30 PM)attackfrog Wrote:  lol....Most people would probably think #1 is a good thing.

While that is a very good point, it's only #1 because it's the easily measurable sign in comparison to previous congresses. They haven't passed half the laws of the least law-passing congress, and they are 3/4 of the way through their terms!

Remember, not only is this the normal bash against congress, it's the comparison to the other congresses taken into effect too.

(07-13-2012 02:56 PM)Delin Wrote:  

(07-13-2012 02:53 PM)SublimeKnight Wrote:  

(07-13-2012 02:11 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  2. They’re hideously unpopular.

They're always unpopular. Congress virtually never has an approval rating over 40% (usually closer to 30%)... yet almost always has an incumbent reelection rate of over 80%

That's because while most people think Congress as a whole can't find their *** with both hands, they really like their Congressmen and Senators.

Have they ever had numbers as low as 9% popularity rate?

(07-13-2012 02:56 PM)Delin Wrote:  

(07-13-2012 02:53 PM)SublimeKnight Wrote:  

(07-13-2012 02:11 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  2. They’re hideously unpopular.

They're always unpopular. Congress virtually never has an approval rating over 40% (usually closer to 30%)... yet almost always has an incumbent reelection rate of over 80%

That's because while most people think Congress as a whole can't find their *** with both hands, they really like their Congressmen and Senators.

Very true...going back to the founding of our country. Congress has never been popular.

The sad part of how our political discourse has developed is that in years past despite our disagreements this country did some great things. We waged wars for 'just' reasons, we built great things like roads, dams, national parks etc. We had a knack form 'big' ideas that separated us from the rest of the world like civil rights, investments in technology and more than anything else a place whe ppl weren't afraid to speak out. Not so sure that can happen anymore....In our with us or against us cable news driven society.

If pros and cons are opposite, is progress the opposite of congress?

-George Carlin

i am neither republican or democrat. however, i know why congress is broken, but in fairness to the op i will not elaborate any further. i will say this though: both parties are responsible but to vastly different degrees (like exponential degrees). and the other problem right now is that the vast majority of the members of congress are paying more attention to corporate interests rather than the interests of the people. the best way to fix this problem is to get money out of politics. have publicly financed elections and mandatory fully disclosed third party advertisement requirements and most of the problems in congress goes away.

We have tree big issues going on:

1_ The individual's rights verses State Rights
2. The individual's rights versus Federalism
3. States rights' veses Federal Rights.

Local, State and Federal government have all infringed way to much in the private citizens' right. The American publis is way over taxed and controlled by all three levels of government.

Because everyone in congress is more interested in scoring points to help their PaRTIES win elections than to improve te Country.

Plain and simple being a Repulican or Democrat in politics comes before being an American and then they hide behind Country First and American Flag lapel pins to show how patriotic they are. Get rid of parties plain and simple they are both bought off by big money

(07-13-2012 06:00 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  Because everyone in congress is more interested in scoring points to help their PaRTIES win elections than to improve te Country.

Plain and simple being a Repulican or Democrat in politics comes before being an American and then they hide behind Country First and American Flag lapel pins to show how patriotic they are. Get rid of parties plain and simple they are both bought off by big money

Smartest thing I've ever heard a Bull say.

Why do they need to pass more laws? Don't we are get screwed enough. That idiot in the white house is the 1st that needs to go.