Dysfunction in the American Congress

[Saint Kitten]

We solve this problem by introducing term limits to stop the power vacuum and these congressman running until there fucking 90 and we simply boot all the ones we now have.

Yes, but that solves a short term problem. When we replace these congressmen, we're replacing old gunk for new gunk, new gunk that is a machine created by the political party they represent to get their way. A politician is NOTHING without the backing of his/her party.

Isn't that the truth. I wish Washington banned the party idea before retiring. Oh well.

[Domenic and friends]

I have been observing the abhorring dysfunction in the Congress, further complicated by the recent Republican attempt to shut down the government. So, what's your view on this problem? Who's fault is it? And how can we solve it?

Note: It would be easier for everyone if you could identify which political party/ideology you associate with, so if you include it in your message, it would be great.
Thanks.

it is the republicans "fault".

you can tell that this is the truth because they made no attempt whatsoever to make concessions to the democrats for things that they might want to include in a CR/debtlimit bill.

im a democrat.

Its both parties fault the pork barrel spending and there distant from reality both parties no longer represent us. Im registered as a republican right now but im disgusted with the GOP and with the democrat's there is no longer no difference between they only want MORE MONEY

[Centertalia]

Oh, Nutella over waffles!

A-MA-ZING!!!!!

[Ashmoria]

The only solution is to run them out of town old school monster movie style with a torch and pick-fork mob.

The same goes for all the other politicians.. regardless of whether they are left- or right-wing and regardless of nationality. To hell with them.

ohforgodssake THIS IS WHAT THEY DID WITH THE TEA PARTY

and look what they replaced the sitting congresspeople with, assholes who think it is a great idea to fuck with the world economy in order to get their highly unpopular and unworkable plans passed into law.

don't throw the bastards out until you have a good idea who you are going to replace them with.

[Neo Art]

It's everyone's fault, and they all suck. I don't associate myself with any of them, and am goram tired of the public at large voting in such self-absorbed lying wastes of our time and resources. And then putting up with them rather than finding a way to give 'em the boot.

Grr, argh, fed up with politics.

There is nothing more intellectually vacuous than nonsensical false equivalency.

[Domenic and friends]

The best idea is to kill em all. ( I hope the NSA isn't reading this lol )

[Neo Art]

it is the republicans "fault".

you can tell that this is the truth because they made no attempt whatsoever to make concessions to the democrats for things that they might want to include in a CR/debtlimit bill.

im a democrat.

Its both parties fault the pork barrel spending and there distant from reality both parties no longer represent us. Im registered as a republican right now but im disgusted with the GOP and with the democrat's there is no longer no difference between they only want MORE MONEY

Exactly. Which is not in the slightest way a bad thing. Congresspeople are elected to represent their district and secure as much federal funding for it as they can.

Earmarks aren't a problem. That's their fucking JOB.

[Neo Art]

The best idea is to kill em all. ( I hope the NSA isn't reading this lol )

Did you and DLN get invites to the hipster party tonight or something?

[Saint Kitten]

The best idea is to kill em all. ( I hope the NSA isn't reading this lol )

*lightning crackles*
You become an ex nation and are shipped off to a prison camp in Siberia

[Domenic and friends]

The best idea is to kill em all. ( I hope the NSA isn't reading this lol )

Did you and DLN get invites to the hipster party tonight or something?

I don't associate with Hipsters lol.

[Ashmoria]

it is the republicans "fault".

you can tell that this is the truth because they made no attempt whatsoever to make concessions to the democrats for things that they might want to include in a CR/debtlimit bill.

im a democrat.

Its both parties fault the pork barrel spending and there distant from reality both parties no longer represent us. Im registered as a republican right now but im disgusted with the GOP and with the democrat's there is no longer no difference between they only want MORE MONEY

pork barrel spending has nothing to do with the current dysfunction.

I wish we could go back to the old days when spending corruption was our big problem.

[Domenic and friends]

The best idea is to kill em all. ( I hope the NSA isn't reading this lol )

*lightning crackles*
You become an ex nation and are shipped off to a prison camp in Siberia

that made my day

[Centertalia]

Ok, I'm leaving now. Be good, kiddies!

No, seriously, I find out this gets nasty...

But have fun!

[Saint Kitten]

*lightning crackles*
You become an ex nation and are shipped off to a prison camp in Siberia

that made my day

That's pretty much why I'm here

[Saint Kitten]

Ok, I'm leaving now. Be good, kittens!

No, seriously, I find out this gets nasty...

But have fun!

Edited

[Luveria]

I see two things happening:
A: The Debt Ceiling is raised before anything happens. Dems give in to Republcan demands, save for Obamacare.

B: The Debt Ceiling is not raised. Shit hits the fan. A few weeks later, it is raised.

I am an anarchist, though, as hypocritical as you may want to call me, I vote Democrat.

Voting for the lesser evil is never hypocritical. It would be hypocritical to sit by idly and allow the worst outcome to happen.

[Blasveck]

I see two things happening:
A: The Debt Ceiling is raised before anything happens. Dems give in to Republcan demands, save for Obamacare.

B: The Debt Ceiling is not raised. Shit hits the fan. A few weeks later, it is raised.

I am an anarchist, though, as hypocritical as you may want to call me, I vote Democrat.

Voting for the lesser evil is never hypocritical. It would be hypocritical to sit by idly and allow the worst outcome to happen.

THANK YOU!

Some people can't seem to realize this fact.

[Beta Test]

It's the Tea Party's fault. Those extremists are unwilling to compromise on anything.

I'm not American but I favour the Democrats.

[Domenic and friends]

It's the Tea Party's fault. Those extremists are unwilling to compromise on anything.

I'm not American but I favour the Democrats.

O yes and Obama and his goons are so willing to work with us ha.

[New Octopucta]

O yes and Obama and his goons are so willing to work with us ha.

So you blame both parties for not being interested in solving America's problems, but you still refer to the Tea Party as "us"?

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

So here's what we do:

Term limits, huzzah. But more than that - at the end of each year during the elected term, a quick vote is run. One question is all that needs to be answered. "Is this person doing the job you voted for them to do/Is this person doing a good job in their position."

However it needs to be phrased, that's what we need to ask. If the answer is no? Runner up/2nd highest vote gets their chance at the remaining years. Repeat at the end of each year. If there is no other available 'runner up' at any given time - let folks campaign for 2-3 mo prior to give the people options to look at. And there you go.

Have this stand for anyone running for any office. Keeps them on their toes. Ensures that they have to KEEP their ratings up, and not feel 'safe' that they can sit out the remainder of their term and do jack shit in the meantime. Keeps the problem of running the country, and keeping the masses convinced that they are doing a decent job of it pretty close to hand.

And cut this bs of voting in their own goram pay. Who in hell gets to do that? Please. Reasonable pay, reasonable compensation, and reasonable expectation of security. Anything else? They can bloody well pay for it themselves. We all know they all have money, so this argument if rich vs poor when it comes to politics is bs of the first magnitude. It takes money to get in a position of power. Ain't no lower middle class serving in high office, guaranteed.

And on big choices that affect the citizens at large? I think we ought to have more say in these things ourselves. Because it's become damn clear these jokers are not properly representing us. Most informed folks I think realize that campaign promises are just that - an act to sucker in the voters. Adding additional protection for said voters and more emphasis on performance for the politicians could winnow some of that out.

Pipe dream? Illogical? Impossible? No idea, but you asked for suggestions - there's a couple.

[Saint Kitten]

O yes and Obama and his goons are so willing to work with us ha.

So you blame both parties for not being interested in solving America's problems, but you still refer to the Tea Party as "us"?

Or just the American people in general.

[Saint Kitten]

So here's what we do:

Term limits, huzzah. But more than that - at the end of each year during the elected term, a quick vote is run. One question is all that needs to be answered. "Is this person doing the job you voted for them to do/Is this person doing a good job in their position."

However it needs to be phrased, that's what we need to ask. If the answer is no? Runner up/2nd highest vote gets their chance at the remaining years. Repeat at the end of each year. If there is no other available 'runner up' at any given time - let folks campaign for 2-3 mo prior to give the people options to look at. And there you go.

Have this stand for anyone running for any office. Keeps them on their toes. Ensures that they have to KEEP their ratings up, and not feel 'safe' that they can sit out the remainder of their term and do jack shit in the meantime. Keeps the problem of running the country, and keeping the masses convinced that they are doing a decent job of it pretty close to hand.

And cut this bs of voting in their own goram pay. Who in hell gets to do that? Please. Reasonable pay, reasonable compensation, and reasonable expectation of security. Anything else? They can bloody well pay for it themselves. We all know they all have money, so this argument if rich vs poor when it comes to politics is bs of the first magnitude. It takes money to get in a position of power. Ain't no lower middle class serving in high office, guaranteed.

And on big choices that affect the citizens at large? I think we ought to have more say in these things ourselves. Because it's become damn clear these jokers are not properly representing us. Most informed folks I think realize that campaign promises are just that - an act to sucker in the voters. Adding additional protection for said voters and more emphasis on performance for the politicians could winnow some of that out.

Pipe dream? Illogical? Impossible? No idea, but you asked for suggestions - there's a couple.

Where were you in 1787?

[Domenic and friends]

O yes and Obama and his goons are so willing to work with us ha.

So you blame both parties for not being interested in solving America's problems, but you still refer to the Tea Party as "us"?

Indeed I do because im a member of the tea party so I refer to us in third person lol. But I do still blame both parties hence is why I said Obama and his goons wont work with us

[Malkora]

It's the Republicans fault. They want to repeal Obamacare so badly, that after a lawsuit and 45 (am I right on that one) failed attempts, they are willing to shut down the government over it. Who's surprised though?