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This Abramoff scandal has finally shed a little light on the scale of the corruption in congress. His contributions to both parties has brought to the attention of the public just how prolific the business of "lobbying" is in congress.
Some Poll Results:
Do you think that Congressmen of the two major Political Parties are about the same levels as far as corruption and ethics?
84% of Independants said yes
71% of Republicans said yes
60% of Democrats said yes
Do you think that your Representative is doing a good job?
I forget the exact numbers, but "Yes" was ahead of "no" by 30 points.
Do you think that other Representatives are doing a good job?
I also forget these numbers, but "no" was ahead of "yes" by 5 points.
The approval rating of Congress is hovering around 27%... far lower than Bush ever has been.
I don't know what all this really means, but I know that this tells us that America is disillusioned and dissatisfied with Congress. We want to hear about issues like Healthcare and Economy, Congress is talking about steriods and abortion. The general populace thinks that their local congressman is okay, and should keep his job, but that everyone else's congressman needs to be replaced.
Does anyone else besides me think that Congress sucks? The president and his issues aside, we only have THIS president for 3 more years, whereas congress is UNLIKELY to change. Being a lobbyist is a very lucrative profession, and all our politicians wield their political power and use it to make lobbyists rich, in hope that when they retire, they will become a lobbyist too.
I doubt it'll change. But there's hope
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__________________ ~Jarrod~ 7th Gen Ninja Clan #5
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The problem is the lack of term limits. For good reason. If we had term limits in congress Alaska and Vermont would never get any federal funding for anything. Committees would be constantly reviewing what the new guy missed last session. Its just not feasible. Unless you do something like 4 term limits then after that you must hit the 65% mark. That way if they want to stay in they cant just ride their base. They would be forced in to caring about non special interest issues to get the extra 15%.
The way its set up now once you have a 4 term congress man you should keep him even if you hate him. Look at Stevens from Alaska. I am sure the people in Alaska hate him and love him. They know has a dirt bag but they also know his seniority allows him to send more money and jobs their way than any perfect politician ever could. I don't think the corruption scandal will really matter much. No matter what happens the string pullers will always be there.
If it costs 3/4 of a million for a known man to win a seat. Where does that leave a fresh, "clean" politician who was on a school board and just wants to help? If you want 3/4 of a million you need to sale your votes. They don't talk about illegal immigration because the farmers p.a.c. pays more than any group that wants illegals kicked out. So you know your politician is going to vote for money and what wont offend more than 50% of his base. As far as steroids go I have no idea what that was other than the fact they all loved to be in the same room with all-stars.
My problem with term limits is that it limits the publics choice. The good thing about a democracy is that you get to choose whom you want to represent you. If you limit the politicians you are, in essense, limiting your own "freedom of choice" as far as your government goes.
Now, as far as corruption, you will never see it eliminated. There are steps that can be taken and, hopefully, some will be taken now that this story has broken. Newt Gingrich has some good ideas. I heard one of his speaches the other day on NPR and he really has done some thinking and reasoning on the subject. It's ironic, tho, that he resigned under an ethics investigation, tho.
__________________ I have too much respect for the idea of God to make it responsible for such an absurd world.
-Georges Duhamel
The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them.
-Mark Twain
BTW, the Reps took MUCH more money than the Dems. Implicitly, they are more corrupt.
Saw this in Time and thought it applied:
__________________ I have too much respect for the idea of God to make it responsible for such an absurd world.
-Georges Duhamel
The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them.
-Mark Twain
