Politicians

Broompilot · Mar 1, 2007

Do we hire them to make suggestions or to think for us?

I am serious, I was wondering what your comments might be. Just an observation of late, I hear them telling us what we need but I never ever hear them listening to people who have more expirence in a field or on a subject than they would ever have. Politicians think they have the answers to any probelm that could come along.

Do you see what I see or dont see?

Jayman · Mar 1, 2007

If your right...maybe I should run for office. LOL I would love to get paid big bucks, have nice perks, and national notoriety and only have to spew my lil opinion. :7

Actually, they have a lot of committees and sub committees that seek information from those who "know" or should know. They then have the task of trying to make a decision on what is needed, what is true, and what will work. That is the part of congress we dont see much of. But...the awful truth is the end decision sometimes comes down to who benefits from the decision if a decision is made. We all know the tit for tat and greedy politics of politics. LOL

Ok, there is my .02

cheri1122 · Mar 1, 2007

Since it costs a large fortune to get elected to anything more important than dogcatcher, the winners are by necessity, either wealthy, or very good at raising money from those who have a lot to spare. We can guess how they raise the brazillions of dollars needed to get elected: by promising to further the agenda of the upper class, or the corporate interests, or whomever can sign the checks they're so fond of. Which isn't "we the people" at all.
For this reason, I like the idea of public financing of political candidates. They are required to begin by collecting a lot of small, local contributions, to demonstrate local community support, and the public airwaves are donated as a public service for controlled advertising, in equal amounts for each candidate. Nobody buys their way in!
I'm sure it won't cure what ails our political misrepresentation, but I think it's a good place to start.

tallcal101 · Mar 2, 2007

I'm on board with your idea Cherri,it has been thrown around for sometime.Unfortunatly,it is viewed as a liberal concept.As long as corporate sponsership of those at the top continues, with only veiled attempts to stop the lobbiests from having their way(the new Democratic congress has let me down so far with regards to reform)things will not change.Earmarks live under a different name,very sad.I had hoped more of the same was not going to be the agenda,but $$$ rule.

lanier1 · Mar 2, 2007

I've said this a hundred times. On this point there is no liberal or conservative. No matter what a candidates party affiliation the only concern is to be elected and re-elected. I too would support anything initiated by anyone that would truly reform campaign fund raising and financing and truly enforce term limits as well as return political service to an act of civil duty and honor, not a career.

arkjarhead · Mar 2, 2007

it would be easier to get blood from a turnip than it would be to get the politicians to vote for term limits and limits on fund raising. if your carrier help a company wide vote would you vote for something that would hurt your wallet? honestly. probobly not. career politican's should be out. there should be term limits. why is it the president is limited but the judicial and legislative branch is not limited at all.

Jayman · Mar 3, 2007

Tallcal101 wrote: (the new Democratic congress has let me down so far with regards to reform)

Who saw that coming?? LOL Imagine being let down by the dems.

greg334 · Mar 3, 2007

>Tallcal101 wrote: (the new Democratic congress has let me
>down so far with regards to reform)
>
>Who saw that coming?? LOL Imagine being let down by the
>dems.

What?!?

Tallcal, did you honestly think that Pelosi and Reed were going to change things?

I am wondering what happened to the ethics thing and why are they not hanging Jefferson to show that they are serious? Instead they are allowing him to be part of the homeland security committee - what's wrong with this picture?

bryan · Mar 3, 2007

Hi

Hopefully the next administration will actually listen to the commitees and public opinion.I think the problem is politicians beleive that we voted for their opinions not for their ablility to represent us.

Either they all say what we want to hear so that they can get elected or they are no longer running the show.I think its the later.I think they all think they can come in and change thing and all have good intentions but, the system is so messed up that they all become lame ducks.I think the country is being run by people who were never elected,who we never see and whom we have no way of getting out of power.

Jayman · Mar 3, 2007

>Either they all say what we want to hear so that they can
>get elected or they are no longer running the show.I think
>its the later.I think they all think they can come in and
>change thing and all have good intentions but, the system is
>so messed up that they all become lame ducks.I think the
>country is being run by people who were never elected,who we
>never see and whom we have no way of getting out of power.

I think it is a combination of what you said plus a few other things. Like...the people who we elect (Democrat or Republican) "typically" dont come from the middle or lower class. So, they have the rich person point of view. Hard to be a government by the people and for the people if your point of view isnt the same as the majority...