October 24, 2005
Incumbent Fatigue
On Thursday October 20th, Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) took the podium on the Sentate floor and gave a stirring speech. The fury in his voice and the righteousness of his message was powerful. However, Senator Stevens was not rallying the country in the war on terror. He was not as Churchill did during the time of war recounting a heroic defense of the “empire” like the battle of Britain in 1940. No, he was not referring to our country’s “finest hour”
Senator Stevens was rising in defense of Alaska. The 50th state in the union received an aggressive and emotional defense of his home state's appropriation of almost half a billion dollars for the construction of two bridges.
Last Thursday, freshman senator Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) in a seemingly all to infrequent case of reasonableness suggested that the appropriation of the "bridges to nowhere" be pulled back in light of the damage caused by hurricane Katrina. He suggested that the monies might be better spent on repairing the I-10 corridor that hundreds of thousands of people travel annually. Senator Stevens, in his response said the following: "I will put the Senate on notice -- and I don't kid people -- if the Senate decides to discriminate against our state, to take money only from our state, I'll resign from this body," he said. "This is not the Senate I came to. This is not the Senate I've devoted 37 years to, if one senator can decide he'll take all the money from one state to solve a problem of another.".
Mr. Stevens is not alone in this call for defense of his homeland. Senator Lisa Murkowski, (R-Alaska) and Congressman Don Young, Alaska's sole representative in the House, have both come to the defense of the bridges. Mr. Young, and Mr. Stevens, not surprisingly have an enormous amount of influence over governmental expenditures. Mr. Young is chairman of the House committee on Transportation (imagine that), and Mr. Stevens, is chairman of the Sentate's committee on Commerce, Science and yes, Transportation. Mr. Stevens, along with Ms. Murkowski an Mr. Young all voted in favor of the appropriation of funds to the disaster in the gulf. They are on record for sending relief to the region. However, when it comes time to pay the bill, they balked at sacrificing some of their hard fought pork. The Bridges must be defended!
During World War Two, President Roosevelt gave a speech five months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In this speech, he called for some amazing sacrifices to be borne by the people of the United States. Consider these words spoken in April of 1942:
"The blunt fact is that every single person in the United States is going to be affected by this program. Some of you will be affected more directly by one or two of these restrictive measures, but all of you will be affected indirectly by all of them.
Are you a businessman, or do you own stock in a business corporation? Well, your profits are going to be cut down to a reasonably low level by taxation. Your income will be subject to higher taxes. Indeed in these days, when every available dollar should go to the war effort, I do not think that any American citizen should have a net income in excess of $25,000 per year after payment of taxes.
Are you a retailer or a wholesaler or a manufacturer or a farmer or a landlord? Ceilings are being placed on the prices at which you can sell your goods or rent your property.
Do you work for wages? You will have to forgo higher wages for your particular job for the duration of the war.
All of us are used to spending money for things that we want, things, however, which are not absolutely essential. We will all have to forgo that kind of spending. Because we must put every dime and every dollar we can possibly spare out of our earnings into war bonds and stamps. Because the demands of the war effort require the rationing of goods of which there is not enough to go around. Because the stopping of purchases of nonessentials will release thousands of workers who are needed in the war effort.
As I told the Congress yesterday, "sacrifice" is not exactly the proper word with which to describe this program of self-denial. When, at the end of this great struggle, we shall have saved our free way of life, we shall have made no "sacrifice."
The price for civilization must be paid in hard work and sorrow and blood. The price is not too high. If you doubt it, ask those millions who live today under the tyranny of Hitlerism."
Mr. Roosevelt's words were hard. People didn't want to hear it then anymore than people want to hear about sacrifice now. However, the reality of the 1940's were that there was sacrifice both abroad and at home. My parents were directly involved in WWII. My dad was a combat soldier in the pacific theatre, and my mom worked in a factory in Waco, Texas manufacturing goods for the war effort. Their parents had "victory gardens" and bought war bonds. Times were hard, but there was a sense of duty amongst those not engaged in active combat to help the war effort.
Today, instead of the President or Congress asking for the nation to sacrifice in the face of war and in the aftermath of natural disasters like the hurricanes that have devastated the gulf coast region, we get Senator Ted Stevens threatening to resign his seat in the Senate instead of relinquishing some of his pork. Mr. Stevens, like I'm sure most of the members of Congress do, believes he is doing the right thing for his state. It is certainly a noble trait to be loyal to one's state. However, when we are at war, or we have suffered tragedy along the lines of the disasters in the gulf, we are no longer Alaskans, or Texas, or Ohioans or Floridians, we are Americans. Mr. Stevens, if you can't see that Mr. Coburn's suggestions are reasonable and prudent in the face of the situation at hand, you need to retire.
It seems like the lessons taught by our parents and grandparents in the 1940's have been lost on us. It seems like the congress of the United States is more interested in currying favor with the folks at home that addressing the realities of the nation at large. I am truly tired of seeing this behavior from congress year after year. I have incumbent fatigue.
Posted by Dennis at October 24, 2005 07:31 AMI absolutely agree. I was sickened by this whole thing and think that they all should just go (except Coburn, that man has gained much respect in my book).
Too often when something of political shenanigans like this raise their head too many say “Well it’s those blasted republicans” (or democrats if your on the right). When really it’s both. I was sickened to listen to conservative radio and they were pointing out all the Senators from the democratic party that voted for this, saying how evil they were. Turning a blind eye to all the republican Senators that voted with them.
Get rid of them all, regardless of party. Let Washington know that we demand better from our representatives. This blind belief that your party can do no wrong is not only blind but wrong.
Posted by: chantico at October 24, 2005 10:04 AMPersonally? Alaska has the source of revenue to fund their own bridges:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Nearly every Alaska resident will receive a payment of $845.76 starting next month, this year’s share of investment earnings from the state’s $30 billion oil-wealth savings account, Gov. Frank Murkowski announced on Tuesday. The dividend will go to about 603,080 adults and children, nearly all of Alaska’s residents, officials said. Most will receive the payments by direct deposit into their bank accounts on October 12. The remainder will have checks mailed out later, officials said.To qualify for the dividend program, which is unique to Alaska in the United States, a person must be a resident for a full calendar year and intend to stay in the state indefinitely.
Alaska has the lowest tax burden per citizen in part because of this dividend program. I have a hard time understanding how Alaska continues to get such a high amount of federal dollars when it is apparent it’s own citizens are not contributing much to these types of programs.
Posted by: Lisa Renee at October 24, 2005 10:21 AMI too am in total agreement. If I am not mistaken, wasn’t the “bridge” money part of a bill unrelated to this type of construction project?
Sadly, the zeal and enthusiasm with which Senator Stevens defends the perceived need on behalf of the state he represents, that position flies in the face of compassion and sacrifice for a greater good.
One incident certainly does not tell the story of a man who has served for 37 years but, a mindset such as that he is demonstrating over this issue gives one pause to wonder if his (or any other elected official) resignation should be welcomed.
Posted by: steve smith at October 24, 2005 10:28 AMGood article, Denis. I especially liked the FDR quote.
If I were the President, I’d veto every bill that came out of Congress until the budget was balanced with a sizeable chunk of it going directly into repayment of our $8 trillion debt. Unfortunately, Bush doesn’t seem to have the guts to use the veto, despite all the threats.
I hope Senator Stevens does resign… One fiscal liberal down, 539 to go!
Posted by: TheTraveler at October 24, 2005 10:31 AMTed Stevens is also one of the few kooks who voted against the anti-torture bill. He is a serious black mark on a Senate full of them.
Posted by: Burt at October 24, 2005 11:13 AMI am truly tired of seeing this behavior from congress year after year. I have incumbent fatigue.
What the hell is Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) complaining about ?
Alaska gets over twice as much pork-barrel per-capita than any other state, for Pete’s sake !
Does Ted Stevens think everyone is so stupid that they wouldn’t discover that little detail?
How greedy, irresponsible, and unaccountable is that?
Rightly so that Mr. Coburn point out that I-10 (used by millions of people) is more important.
So, yes. Please, resign Mr. Ted Stevens. (but, watch…he won’t).
The larger issue is the irresponsibility and unaccountability that is rampant these days. Where’s Bush’s veto pen? And both parties are votin’ for massive pork-barrel, graft, and waste.
I suspect they all know that this can’t last forever, so they’re trying to abuse it as much as possible now, get theirs, grease the wheels of the corrupt government, and let the tax payers suffer the consequences.
Ted Stevens voted against anti-torture (i.e. he supports torture)? Well there ya go. He’s not only greedy. He’s dangerous.
Yeah, I hope he does resign. But, if he doesn’t, voters ought to vote him out. Same for all voters nation wide. Incumbents are way too cozy and arrogantly think they can not be unseated, because they’ve got big money backing them…they’re bought-and-paid-for. None of them want campaign finance reform, election reform, spending cuts, fiscal responsibility, an end to pandering, secure the border, or work on these serious problems or make responsible decisions that might risk their re-election, or upset their puppet masters. The voters need to start using their votes more wisely, to vote out the incumbents, that are irresponsibly endangering the nation’s future and security.
Also, here’s an example of the problem with so many, complacent, irresponsible and unaccountable incumbents (and freshmen learning their bad ways).
Here’s an excellent example of the greed, irresponsibility, and unaccountability of Congress, and Bush who hasn’t vetoed any of it.
Here’s what our Congress did when faced with tough decisions:
________________________________________
[] Vote for pork-barrel or FEMA ?
[] Vote Congress itself raises or give salaries of troops in active duty ?
[] Vote for $75,000 for Onondaga County for the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame or more armor for humvees ?
[] Vote for $150,000 added in conference for the Coca-Cola Space Science Center in Columbus, Ga. or secure the nation’s borders (which Al-Qaeda is infiltrating) ?
[] Vote for $250,000 added by the House for the North Creek Ski Bowl in the district of House appropriator John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) or Vote to fix the levees in New Orleans ?
[] Vote for $250,000 added by the Senate for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. to support community programs or fix our crumbling infrastructure (bridges, roads, railways, etc.) ?
[] Vote for $775,000 for the Biltmore Hotel in the district of Rep. Ileana Ros- Lehtinen (R-Fla.) or shore up Social Security and Medicare ?
[] Vote for $100,000 for the Tiger Woods Foundation or improve public education ?
[] Vote for $300,000 for Baltimore for the relocation of the Center Garage or prosecute investor/stock fraud ?
[] Vote for $100 million for bridges to nowhere (i.e. in Alaska and West Virginia), or shore up the GPBGC and $1.6 trillion shortfall in pensions?
[] Vote for $5000 for gold embossed cards for Air Force One or bullet proof vests for troops in Iraq ?
_______________________________________
Are we having fun yet ?
Want to see thousands of more examples of disgusting graft, pork-barrel, waste, irresponsibility, and unaccountability?
See: http://www.cagw.org
http://www.akdart.com/warpage8.html
http://www.progress.org/tcs62.htm
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/wm608.cfm
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=14345
http://www.cse.org/informed/issues_template.php?issue_id=990
http://www.areddy.net/mscott/pork.html
http://www.yourcongress.com/viewarticle.asp?article_ID=2027 (pay raises)
http://www.yourcongress.com/viewarticle.asp?article_ID=2027
http://www.akdart.com/waste.html
“But, if he doesn’t, voters ought to vote him out. Same for all voters nation wide. Incumbents are way too cozy and arrogantly think they can not be unseated, because they’ve got big money backing them”
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D.A.N.
I agree with you. A movement needs to be started to sweep the incumbents out office. Much like David Remer’s VOID (Vote Out Incumbents Democracy) website, we need more mechanisms to get our message out.
We need to flood the office holders with mail demanding this type of nonsense be stopped. In the words of the immortal Howard Beale, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore….”
Posted by: Dennis at October 24, 2005 12:19 PMResignation would be preferable since Stevens is a Class 2 Senator. This class is not up for re-election until 2009.
Posted by: steve smith at October 24, 2005 12:49 PMDennis,
Yes. The level of nonsense is incredulous.
Third parties should be paying close attention to this. I’m surprised third parties haven’t already been out in force, revealing the irresponsibility of incumbents, getting on all the ballots, and encouraging voters to vote for them, because they’re not bought-and-paid-for.
Third parties are going to miss the boat, if they don’t capitalize on the rampant fiscal & moral irresponsibility exhibited by the incumbents who smuggly believe their above reproach, and safe from the wrath of the voters that are steadily getting fed up with it (just look at Bush’s ratings lately, and the overall ratings of Congress).
Do you think the economy is headed in the right direction?
N = 7,882 Margin of Error +/- 1.5%
…….. YES …… NO …… Undecided
Dem …. 4.0% …. 92.0% …. 3.9%
Ind …. 19.8% …. 71.9% …. 8.3%
Rep …. 58.3% …. 28.8% …. 12.8%
Overall Percentages
28.2% believe the economy is headed in the right direction, 63.3% do not, 8.5% are undecided.
That’s not very good.
And government’s incredulous irresponsibility and accountability, spending and borrowing and printing money, pandering, and ignoring problems (for decades), getting us into wars on bad intelligence, poor planning, etc. is the fault of government. We should view Congress as one entity, and start voting out the incumbents, because they don’t get it. Or, they do suspect where this is all heading to, and are just tryin’ to get in, get theirs, get as much as they can, before the $#!+ hits the fan.
If third parties miss this opportunity (all of them combined to spread the non-incumbent message), the incumbents will become harder and harder to unseat and hold accountable, and the 3rd parties and independents will allow the two main parties to continue to more effectively block them more and more from access to ballots, debates, and the democratic process. All of the third parties just need to get on the ballots and promise the people that they will be more responsible, more accountable, not bought-and-paid-for, not puppets of those that abuse vast wealth and power, and truly concerned about the future and security of the nation. It’s not a contest of 3rd parties against each other. It’s an opportunity for all 3rd parties and independents to spread the non-incumbnet message and all finally have a voice in government.
If this nation doesn’t get on the right path soon, it may be too late. An economic melt-down is not hard to fathom now, as National Debt grows and grows, interest on the debt is over $1 billion per day, government also borrows over another $1 billion per day, government continues to spend, borrow, print money (this is by design intended to reduce debt, but you may soon need a truck load of currency to buy a loaf of bread), and grow and grow to nightmare proportions, and ignore serious problems that continue to grow in number and severity.
Posted by: d.a.n at October 24, 2005 12:53 PMI have to vote in favor of the FDR quote along with Traveler. On 9/12/01 et. al. we got some great quotes from Bush43 too.
Unfortunately, instead of fighting OBL, this century’s version of Hitler, in a common effort, we gave tax cuts to the rich, non-compete contracts to KBR and Hallibuton, etc…
There isn’t any unity, there is only:
An endless, bloddy war,
Record budget deficits in place of surpluses
Huge increases in poverty rates
Huge increases in uninsured rates
Cancelled treaties
The trashing of Environmental laws
The gutting of FEMA into Homeland Security and bungled disaster recovery and relief
In the end, it’s been more power to Big Brother, loyalty oaths, the parties blue coveralls rule, and a motto of “the hell with the prol’s who don’t shop at walmart and pay my taxes”.
Resignation would be preferable since Stevens is a Class 2 Senator. This class is not up for re-election until 2009.
We ought to also start recalls too. Even if the recalls are unsuccessful, they’ll send a clear message.
Posted by: d.a.n at October 24, 2005 12:58 PMD.A.N.,
I’m right with you. It think it would be a very favorable situation to see a group of third parties and independent gain enough seats in the house where there would be no clear majority. A coalition government has quite a lot of promise because it would help break the strangle-hold on committee chairs and governmental leadership. Can you imagine, Ways and Means being run by a Libertarian, or a Green, or simply an independent?
D.A.N. and Dennis;
I think D.A.N. may be close to an answer with his no-encumbent rule changes. But, who really thinks those in power will give it up unilaterally? And if a change happens, why do you think the New Boss won’t be the same as the Old Boss?
I recently re-read Animal Farm. You should too. No answers there, just warnings.
Posted by: Dave at October 24, 2005 01:10 PMGreat article, Dennis.
Dave, check out Vote Out Incumbents Democracy. It is a brand new web site and organization just now developing a strategy for an anti-incumbency grass roots movement to grow over the next 2 presidential election cycles. If successful, it could change the foundations of the relationship between voters and political parties and voters and poltiicians. Powerful concept.
Posted by: David R. Remer at October 24, 2005 01:51 PMRe: anti-incumbency fever
We here in Minnesota had an election wherein anti-incumbency fever ran so high we elected an ex-pro-wrestler to the governorship, thereby taking the wacky politics crown from California. Of course, they quickly reclaimed it by electing the Governator, but, oh, those were heady days.
“The Mind” proceeded to push tax cuts and gave reserve-fund money back to the voters, leaving one hell of a hole in the state budget once the go-go economy of the ’90s became the no-go economy of the ’00s. We have had one hell of a time coping with that the last few years. Some of you may have noticed that our government was shut down for a while.
Anyhow, thoughtful selection of candidates is the way to go. The devil you know may be better than the wacko waiting in the wings. It’s a case-by-case sort of analysis. Remember, some of the incumbents are decent statesmen, and even our heroes have done some doubtful things occasionally.
I’m just saying.
Posted by: Mental Wimp at October 24, 2005 02:40 PMp.s. But a lot (maybe most) of the incumbents should go, given their horrible track record over the last few years.
Posted by: Mental Wimp at October 24, 2005 02:42 PMMW,
Interesting perspective. I always wondered how Minnesotans felt about “Jesse the Body”. I agree you can’t just thrown anyone in office to get the incumbents out. That being said, I’m close to writing in my border collie Angus to run against Kay Bailey Hutchison here in Texas.
I’m interested to know though, how Jesse fared compared to other Governors of Minnesota? Good, Bad, Laughable?
thx for the insight.
Posted by: Dennis at October 24, 2005 02:47 PMDave,
Yes, the environment and falling approval levels of both D’s and R’s could open the door just enough for many 3rd parties and independents to get their foot in the door.
No, nobody wants to give up their power. But, they may have no choice if all third parties and independents adequately spread the non-incumbency message, and the people realize that this one very simple idea may be the easiest, safest, easiest to understand, easiest to communicate to others, and the quickest thing a voter can do to peacefully force government to be responsible and accountable. Simply VOTE only for a NON-incumbent candidate. NO exceptions. Repeatedly, EVERY election. UNTIL things improve, and the nation’s most pressing problems are adequately addressed ( i.e. the nation’s most no-brainer, non-contentious, most serious problems). Sure, many will cling to the old way, but many want improvements, and they recognize that time is running out.
Perhaps the voters are starting to see that what they’ve been doing ain’t working. They’re most certainly getting nervous about energy vulnerability, the economy, inflation, IRAQ, and growing debt (national($8T) and personal($50T)), and government’s incompetence to solve many of the nations pressing problems.
Also, perhaps some new (non-incumbent) D’s and R’s may want to campaign with this non-incumbency idea, and unseat each other…but, they’re always trying to do that anyway, I guess. The only difference is they don’t campaign on the idea of unseating incumbents because they are largely too cozy and the cause of so much fiscal & moral irresponsibility and unaccountability.
After all, the goal is to keep unseating all politicians, every election (maybe even start some recalls), if they refuse to be more transparent (e.g. such as refuse to pass a ONE PURPOSE PER BILL so we can see what’s going on), or pass a BALANCED BUDGET law, or actually embrace election reform, and address campaign finace and influence peddling, and work on a list of the nation’s most important problems, and make certain all things over-complicated to be more easily abused, are simplified and made transparent to the people. For example, A ONE PURPOSE PER BILL is one very simple request. Despite what politicians want you to think, it’s not all rocket-science. A BILL can contain multiple items, but only if they are related to the same ONE purpose. That way, we’ll know who and why anyone voted for/against the BILL. And, that’s a very easy, simple change. No more 10,000 page BILLs loaded up with pork, graft, and waste. And, it would be very revealing to see who opposes a ONE PURPOSE PER BILL law ? It would be very interesting and revealing to see who opposes some simple, no-brainer, easy changes to make government more transparent, responsible, and accountable.
But, the third parties too have a supreme chance here to capitalize on the failure of the D’s and R’s who are simply taking turns being irresponsible and unaccountable
_____________________________
BTW. National Debt just reached: $8.0 trillion
( brillig.com/debt_clock )
_____________________________
“Vote for $75,000 for Onondaga County for the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame or more armor for humvees ?”
I live in Syracuse. None of us wanted this or asked for it. We have enough sports talent worthy of Hall of Fame status in our city’s history to fit in a phone-booth. We don’t have any working phone-booths or I would suggest that as a viable option.
If you were to witness first-hand the problems that plague this city, you would understand why the citizens of Syracuse are as outraged as you, maybe more.
Dennis said,
“That being said, I’m close to writing in my border collie Angus to run against Kay Bailey Hutchison here in Texas”
That election is going to be a real dog fight. I hope it doesn’t become a pissing contest.
Posted by: steve smith at October 24, 2005 04:56 PM“I will put the Senate on notice — and I don’t kid people — if the Senate decides to discriminate against our state, to take money only from our state, I’ll resign from this body,” he said. “This is not the Senate I came to. This is not the Senate I’ve devoted 37 years to, if one senator can decide he’ll take all the money from one state to solve a problem of another.”.
Now lets hope the Senate will have the balls to call his bluff.
It is certainly a noble trait to be loyal to one’s state. However, when we are at war, or we have suffered tragedy along the lines of the disasters in the gulf, we are no longer Alaskans, or Texas, or Ohioans or Floridians, we are Americans.
I’m sure that Mr. Stevens agrees with you Dennis. But just don’t take any PORK from HIS state to help those that need it.
Posted by: Ron Brown at October 24, 2005 05:26 PMHe’s probably one of the congress that’s pushing to take the money from medicaid and medicare. That sure makes sense to me.
What a crock!
Posted by: womanmarine at October 24, 2005 05:34 PMI suspect they all know that this can’t last forever, so they’re trying to abuse it as much as possible now, get theirs, grease the wheels of the corrupt government, and let the tax payers suffer the consequences.
You give them too much credit d.a.n. They think it can last forever. And it will as long as the voters keep relecting them.
Want to see thousands of more examples of disgusting graft, pork-barrel, waste, irresponsibility, and unaccountability?
Not really, the ones I know of make me sick enough.
We ought to also start recalls too. Even if the recalls are unsuccessful, they’ll send a clear message.
I’M FOR IT! I can think of servral incumbents right here in GA on ALL levels that need to be FIRED!
Mental Wimp
p.s. But a lot (maybe most) of the incumbents should go, given their horrible track record over the last few years.
Just the last few years? Lets try the last 50 or 60 years.
If only 1/4 of the incumbents lost their asses in the next few election cycles (and it’s going to take a few) I’m willing to bet it will get the attention of the others.
But they still need to be FIRED.
Dennis
Jesse was the 2nd worst governor in my lifetime. The first is our current governor, who signed a pledge not to raise taxes, then proposed a tax on cigarettes but called it a “health impact fee” when the revenue didn’t stretch to cover the budget hole. It didn’t fix the budget and the tobacco companies sued, because Minnesota agreed to not collect any more penalties when it settled with them. He couldn’t broker a compromise between the IR house and DFL senate because he couldn’t agree to any rise in taxes. The results was state government shutdown and hardship for a lot of folks.
At least Jesse had some new ideas not cooked up in a think tank controlled by some vested interest. He expressed an economic conservatism with a social liberality that kept things balanced. He funded education and barked at the media. He was entertaining, but lost interest after a while and would have been a disaster in more economically challenging times (see above).
Posted by: Mental Wimp at October 24, 2005 06:05 PMD.A.N.
I don’t see the problem as the people wanting to get good, maybe even independent, candidates. Despite the obvious fact that half the people are of less than average intelligence it takes MONEY to get elected and it takes more than incompetence and failure to get thrown out. The whole system needs to change. I’m actually a little grateful that Bush was re-elected. His incredible failures may force the center away from the right and it’s hard to imagine the Democrats as a salvation.
We’ll see, maybe the bloggers can have sway in ‘06?…
I was right about the “co-dependency” of voters and their representatives— it will only get worse until their “neighbors” ( third parties/ voters) show their disgust in a loud and obnoxious sort of way. Third parties must stop looking inward on their own parties, and have a common enemy— incumbents! Yes, it is politically-incorrect to be against the D’s or R’s, but it is not incorrect to blast the two-party system because of irresponsibility and unaccountability in Washington [don’t forget your state]. The co-dependents will die of suicide unless their neighbors (third parties/ voters) will stop them.
My is this a cold, cold room. Have we no love left for our incumbents? What a sad, sad day…for them. However, it’s a happy, hope-filled for America! Maybe we will finally have enough active dissent that we can exact some significant long-lasting change on our corrupt, irresponsible government!
However, I do agree with Senator Stevens on one point… “…if the Senate decides to discriminate against our state, to take money only from our state…” There’s no reason to discriminate against Alaska. Take all the pork away from all the states to fund the disaster relief efforts, while ensuring that the disaster relief efforts do not in turn become pork itself, then use the rest of the funds to work towards balancing the budget!!!
Again, there’s no reason to discriminate against Alaska! All states are getting too much federal pork, when we really don’t have the funds in excess…all of it can be used better elsewhere! If those projects are important enough to the people in each individual state, give those people the option to raise their own taxes to fund the project instead of relying on the federal government to fund it for them.
Posted by: Stephanie at October 24, 2005 11:03 PMDave wrote: … The whole system needs to change. I’m actually a little grateful that Bush was re-elected. His incredible failures may force the center away from the right and it’s hard to imagine the Democrats as a salvation. We’ll see, maybe the bloggers can have sway in ‘06?…
Yeah, me too. I hope all potential candidates are paying attention. Not just D’s and R’s tryin’ to unseat each other as usual, but also, all 3rd parties and independents.
Dave Weller wrote: Third parties must stop looking inward on their own parties, and have a common enemy— incumbents! Yes, it is politically-incorrect to be against the D’s or R’s, but it is not incorrect to blast the two-party system because of irresponsibility and unaccountability in WashingtonExactly. Really. The main point is to (first) promote voting for non-incumbents, because they have demonstrated they are irresponsible and unaccountable. All third parties and independents should be encouraged to get on all the ballots and give voters more choices. We need many more choices. All third parties and independents should be paying close attention, because this may finally be a chance for them to have a voice in government, and participate in the debates and democratic process. There may be a few signs (polls) indicating that some people are starting to get fed up with both main parties, and may be willing to vote for someone else that they isn’t a bought-and-paid-for-puppet. I certainly hope so. I used to be Republican, but no more. Unfortunately, it took me way way too long to see that both parties are just takin’ turns being irresponsible and unaccountable. I’m no genious, but not a complete idiot either. That just goes to show you how effective the two main-parties are at seducing voters into participation in the petty partisan bickering over less substantive issues, while the politicians ignore the real work of the people, and allow our pressing problems to grow in number and severity.
This extremely simple idea, that all third parties should embrace and spread everywhere, may possibly be the easiest, most simple, least destructive, most painless, most responsible way for voters to restore the balance of power (not simply shift it) between government and the people, and provide the peaceful force to give politicians an incentive to reform, and be responsible and accountable too. And voters should keep on voting out incumbents until politicians make government transparent so that we can really see what they’re doing. Currently, we can’t see (by design) what’s really going on. That’s why we have 20,000 page BILLs loaded up with graft, pork-barrel, and waste. Voters should keep voting out incumbents, until government starts to address, and implement some basic changes. Give them some easy ones to start with. Like ONE PURPOSE PER BILL, or a BALANCED BUDGET amendment, or perhaps, some of these tasks, and/or the top 10 worst problems on this list of 25 serious problems facing the nation. Transparency is an important objective. It’s not complicated. Largely, it only requires some simple analysis and simplification of procedures and rules that have gradually been (by design) abused, and over-complicated, to reduce transparency (such as allowing countless unrelated items into the same bill, eventually paving the way for pork-barrel, graft, and waste). Eventually, one of the results of this system should be more transparency and politicians that begin to police their own ranks, so one bad politician doesn’t make them all look irresponsible. so that voters will stop voting out all incumbents, and only vote out the bad politicians.
Stephanie wrote: Again, there’s no reason to discriminate against Alaska! All states are getting too much federal pork, when we really don’t have the funds in excess…all of it can be used better elsewhere! If those projects are important enough to the people in each individual state, give those people the option to raise their own taxes to fund the project instead of relying on the federal government to fund it for them.Yes, Alaska shouldn’t be picked on. However, Alaska is receiving (per capita) over twice as much as any other state, and many times more than other states. And, that’s a good point about the pathetic dependency of states on the federal government to the point that Ted Stevens is willing to through a fit and quit. Well, that’s what he should do. Through a fit and quit. Besides, that scum bag tolerates torture, which isn’t just wrong for countless reasons, but dumb, because it endangers our troops, and damages our integrity, and loses the respect of our allies, and the world.
Yes, Stephanie, I hope they’re feeling the chill.
Posted by: d.a.n at October 25, 2005 12:46 AMI’ve mentioned this before, d.a.n…this sort of thing has to occur on a local and state level first. You’re aiming a bit too high.
Posted by: mattLaw at October 25, 2005 01:01 AMmattLaw,
I don’t think so, and many others don’t either. Have you been keeping up with the polls ?
The focus is at all levels of government.
It’s up to the 3rd parties and independents to spread the message too. It’s in their best interest. They’re missing the boat if they don’t capitalize on the falling poll ratings of both D’s and R’s. It’s doubtful many D’s are R’s or their parties are going to advocate non-incumbency, but D’s and R’s are already trying to unseat each other, and 3rd parties and independents can, and should try to do the same. This shouldn’t be a contest of 3rd parties against each other. All third parties and independents should get on the ballots, and all spread the same message, which is the undeniable truth…both main parties are just taking turns being irresponsible and unaccountable, and refuse to tackle tough problems (in our dysfunctional bass-ackwards system) for fear of risking re-election.
Have you seen this ? http://www.poliwatch.org/void/
Please join and help start a small grassroots effort.
We’ll see. Time will tell. One thing is almost a given. If something isn’t done soon, the next 5 to 10 years (if it’s not areadly too late) are going to be unpleasant. What government often does takes many decades to be felt, but government has been increasingly irresponsible, and unaccountable for the last 30 years, and it’s getting worse, and there will be consequences. It’s not a matter of if. It’s just a matter of when. Some very good economists are predicting something around 2009 or 2010. Of course, that’s provided nothing really bad happens such as a another war, or downturn in IRAQ, or another serious natural disaster, etc.
The fiscal irresponsibility is leaving us fewer and fewer options, when we need them most. A economic melt-down is not hard to fathom, with the many very serious problems that continue to grow in number and severity. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if a few culminate, simultaneously to bring on a serious recession, maybe even something as bad as the Great Depression. Especially when considering all of these many issues that keep going largly ignored.
Well I must say that I’m not nearly as pessimistic as you are … but I would love to see more 3rd parties step in.
Expecting all independents and 3rd parties to ‘team up’ or support each other? I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one.
Posted by: mattLaw at October 25, 2005 01:36 AMMattLaw,
If one would care to outline the vote of the only Independent in the House and Senate over the last 10 years, people would see a neat trend. However, no D, R or I should be elected unless they are willing to take on how Congress itself is ran. Did you know that all new Representatives and Senators are given 5 topics that they are not allowed to talk about in public?
Proof, as not able to obtain internal memos, just call your local rep and ask them why the minimum wage does not meet the 30% income level required by HUD? Ask why housing prices are placed out of the range of the single income family? Ask them why all entitlement programs have rose in cost when by Law their objective is to lower the need for them? Ask them why after 35-40 years, America still face the same social issues? And if your dare, ask them why Congress does not oversee these programs in a manner prescribed to by Law?
Want to bet anybody gets a direct answer? Ask any Rookie Representative or Senator if they were given advice on why not to discuss these issues and others in public. No, America does not to get rid of the incumbents, it needs to get smarter on what they are doing and how they are doing it. That would put people like Mr. Stevens exposed for the game that they are trying to play.
Posted by: Henry Schlatman at October 25, 2005 05:03 AMIt’s not pessimism mattLaw.
It’s realistic (IMO).
Actually, it may even be optimistic.
Afterall, it was you that said I was setting my sights too high. Is that pessimistic ?
It was you that said the idea won’t float? I say it might?
Is that pessimistic ?
Even if I’m wrong, wouldn’t it benefit us all to acquire more responsible and accountable government?
Why sabotage that?
Why not allow those that want it to try?
Why not help? Check out VOID.
d.a.n.—
I’ve made no effort to “sabotage” your attempt, here!
I noted that, yes, it will take a much larger influx of independents on the local and state level before they can reach any meaningful level in the federal government. My point being that your efforts might be more worthwhile in your hometown or state.
Secondly … I recall taking issue with a few things that you felt were really big problems (from your website) because they were NOT really “problems,” but were concepts that were directly dictated by our Constitution.
I suppose you might argue that there are flaws in the Constitution that need to be rectified by amendment, but I would assert that actions sanctioned by the Constitution are not ‘problems.’
Posted by: mattLaw at October 25, 2005 11:24 AMmattLaw,
Sorry for the sabotage question (Why sabotage that?). I really was asking it of everyone, including you, but I should refrain, and earnestly listen to your’s and others’ objections, so that I can improve the message and its effectiveness.
Yes, the Constitution may need a change, but not if it can be avoided. Election Reform may require constitutional amendment changes, because it currently allows government to be for sale. Changes may not be necessary if regulation (which is allowed) can limit such influence.
Yes, but I’m hoping the idea can spread into my hometown and state too. But, the federal government is mostly where I see the most irresponsibility and unaccountability. So, much of the focus is at the federal level too.
mattLaw wrote:
Expecting all independents and 3rd parties to ‘team up’ or support each other? I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one.
You may be right about that, but we don’t expect them support or team up, but merely (to their own advantage and benefit) help spread the message that the current government is being irresponsible and unaccountable.
The polls may be are starting to show some support:
____________________________
Do you think the economy is headed in the right direction?
N = 7,882 Margin of Error +/- 1.5%
…….. YES …… NO …… Undecided
Dem …. 4.0% …. 92.0% …. 3.9%
Ind …. 19.8% …. 71.9% …. 8.3%
Rep …. 58.3% …. 28.8% …. 12.8%
Overall Percentages
28.2% believe the economy is headed in the right direction, 63.3% do not, 8.5% are undecided.
______________________
As for the federal governments irresponsibility and accountability (if some disagree), I’d like to repeat something that exemplifies and demonstrates the magnitude of the problem.
_______________________________________________
Here’s an excellent example of the greed, irresponsibility, and unaccountability of Congress, and Bush who hasn’t vetoed any of it.
Here’s what our Congress did when faced with tough decisions:
______________________________________
[] Vote for pork-barrel or FEMA ?
[] Vote Congress itself raises or give salaries of troops in active duty ?
[] Vote for $75,000 for Onondaga County for the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame or more armor for humvees ?
[] Vote for $150,000 added in conference for the Coca-Cola Space Science Center in Columbus, Ga. or secure the nation’s borders (which Al-Qaeda is infiltrating) ?
[] Vote for $250,000 added by the House for the North Creek Ski Bowl in the district of House appropriator John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) or Vote to fix the levees in New Orleans ?
[] Vote for $250,000 added by the Senate for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. to support community programs or fix our crumbling infrastructure (bridges, roads, railways, etc.) ?
[] Vote for $775,000 for the Biltmore Hotel in the district of Rep. Ileana Ros- Lehtinen (R-Fla.) or shore up Social Security and Medicare ?
[] Vote for $100,000 for the Tiger Woods Foundation or improve public education ?
[] Vote for $300,000 for Baltimore for the relocation of the Center Garage or prosecute investor/stock fraud ?
[] Vote for $100 million for bridges to nowhere (i.e. in Alaska and West Virginia), or shore up the GPBGC and $1.6 trillion shortfall in pensions?
[] Vote for $5000 for gold embossed cards for Air Force One or bullet proof vests for troops in Iraq ?
_______________________________________
You listed $100M+/-, that is appx 1% of our debt. A start, but not much.
IMHO: It is not the Constitution that needs changing. It’s We the people who need to take charge, back from the parties and plutocrats. We are on the slippery slope down to the “former great empire” pages of history.
As I’ve posted before, perhaps we have a chance if the center wakes up to the disaster of neo-con FREC politics and looks for a new salvation.
Did you mean $100 Billion ?
Yes, $100 Billion is 1.25% of the National Debt.
$100Million ( $100,000,000.00 ) = 1 X 10^8 = 1E8
National Debt: $8Trillion ($8,000,000,000,000.00) = 8 x 10^12 = 8E12
(1E8/8E12)x100 = 0.0000125 = 0.00125 % of $8T National Debt
$100Million = .004545 % of the $2.2Trillion annual spending.
Interest on National Debt per day is over $1 Billion ($1,000,000,000.00) and growing fast.
Yes, $100 million is a lot of money, but it is only 10% of the interest on the National Debt for one day.
_____________________________
The amount of National Debt is almost equal to GDP. I wonder if that has any special significance, other than that we are in deep $#!+ ?
If we stopped borrowing $1 billion per day, and started reducing the National Debt (which requires over $1 billion per day to keep it from growing ever larger), it would take 127 years to pay it down to ZERO.
See: http://home.comcast.net/~d.a.n/NationalDebt.xls
Does that sound like anything to be mildly concerned about ?
No one in the Federal government seems to be worried, do they ?
Something is very, VERY, wrong with this picture. Something is very, fundamentally wrong here, and the lack of most Americans’ concern about it is interesting. It seems like the people take their cue from the politicians. If they’re not worried about it, then there’s no problem. What do you think ?
So, how will it be possible to get out of this predicament? $8 Trillion (not to mention $1.6 trillion deficit in the GPBGC & pensions nation-wide, and another $2 trillion needed soon for Medicare, S.S. cost-of-living increases, and $1 billion per day to keep from defaulting on interest payments. You know what’s going to happen. They will have no choice, but to start printing more money. The upside, is we’ll be able to put a lot more new faces on the new U.$. currency, because we’re going to need much bigger denominaitons. For instance, you’ll soon need a $2000 dollar bill to get a loaf of bread. It’s either that, or get a wheel barrow to move around your cash. But, then, you could put it on a credit card, I suppose. The U.S. already has about $30 trillion (nation-wide) in personal debt. Sure, why not. The government does it. Might as well follow their fine example.
Posted by: d.a.n at October 25, 2005 01:44 PMAw, but d.a.n., you forgot the alternative where we could go raid some foreign country for their wealth. That seems like a really good option (sarcasm alert), and we just might try it…again, I mean.
Posted by: Stephanie at October 25, 2005 03:20 PMStephanie,
We’re actually really doing that already.
China, France, Germany, Japan, and all the other countries investing in our National Debt may end up being the victims of the largest ponzi scheme over perpetrated on the whole world.
They may now be in a Catch-22 where they are nervous about lend us more, but don’t want to stop if it’s going to erode their investment, and they don’t want to keep lending us money which will lead to more spending, borrowing, and inflation, which will erode their investment.
And, it ain’t easy to come up with $1 billion per day to pay interest. That’s why they borrow $1 billion per day…to pay the interest that is $1 billion per day.
And, if it gets too difficult to borrow, they’ll have no choice but to print more money.
And that’s going to erode everyone’s investment in the national debt. That’s going to have numerous effects on the U.$. and world economy.
Some of those countries and Greenspan too are warning about the deficits. They should be getting nervous, but it may already be too late.
And, I don’t see Congress suddenly becoming responsible.
And, compound that with 77 million baby boomers expecting their Social Security, Medicare, Prescriptions, pensions, too. And what about those baby boomers that quit earning as much income, and pay less tax, and have less to spend now that they’re unemployed. What impact will that have on the economy. And then there’s our energy vulnerability. There’s more. It all, combined, could be the last straw.
The only hope is to get some fiscal & moral responsibility in government soon. Because they currently is very little, as demonstrated by the list (above) of how government copes with difficult decisions.
Posted by: d.a.n at October 25, 2005 04:41 PM[] Vote for $150,000 added in conference for the Coca-Cola Space Science Center in Columbus, Ga. or secure the nation’s borders (which Al-Qaeda is infiltrating) ?
Now Stephanie, what in earth would make you think that my home state is getting any pork?
I agree with you though, ALL pork needs to be removed from EVERY state. Not just Alaska.
The only kind of pork ANY state should have is the kind that comes from the 4 footed pigs, not the 2 footed ones in DC.
I used to be Republican, but no more. Unfortunately, it took me way way too long to see that both parties are just takin’ turns being irresponsible and unaccountable.
Aren’t you glad you saw the light. Now we need to get the message out to all who are still wondering in their ingorant bliss and dont relize whats happening in DC.
Do I sound like one of them TV preachers?
I’m no genious, but not a complete idiot either. That just goes to show you how effective the two main-parties are at seducing voters into participation in the petty partisan bickering over less substantive issues, while the politicians ignore the real work of the people, and allow our pressing problems to grow in number and severity.
I know what your talking about. I’ve managed to get 4 fo my sisters and their husbands to understand that BOTH parties are corrupt and need to removed from power. But the others are still listening to the main parties BS. None of these are stupid. They just haven’t come to understand what we’re talking about. But I’m going to keep working on them. Maybe someday, hopefully real soon.
Posted by: Ron Brown at October 25, 2005 05:09 PMmattLaw
I’ve mentioned this before, d.a.n…this sort of thing has to occur on a local and state level first. You’re aiming a bit too high.
It needs to happen on ALL levels at the same time.
That way we can REALLY get the attention of the policticians.
Ron,
I don’t in fact know you’re state is specifically getting pork, but I can’t imagine any Senator keeping their state out of the Congressional spending-lust at this point.
However, I do know one bit of “pork” (actually, it was more like venison) my own state got. When, the chronic wasting disease started showing up in a few dozen deer (out of a herd of about a billion, or so I’ve been told by the media) Gov. Doyle pushed the panic button, begged money off of Bush, and got it. For deer… That’s not including the state dollars that got dumped in there. Or the people programs that got cut for the sake of the deer. Or even the fact that the idiotic method of containment they tried (which, just about everyone knew was idiotic from the get-go) didn’t even work!
Now, that’s not to say I have a problem with deer; venison’s good stuff and hunting is a big “industry” here in Wisconsin, but come on folks! When all the experts are telling you something won’t work, that there are less expensive methods that have proven do work, and that most of it can be done with “free labor” on behalf of the hunters who actually enjoy going out and shooting deer… ya’ know, you’d think somebody would listen, but no, we got to go a-beggin’!
I agree, Ron! Out with the 2 footed pigs in DC!!!
Posted by: Stephanie at October 25, 2005 05:14 PMd.a.n.
Some of those countries and Greenspan too are warning about the deficits. They should be getting nervous, but it may already be too late.
Have you seen on the news that Greenspan is stepping down. Bush has nominated someone to take his place, but I don’t remember his name.
This new guy might not worry as much about the deficit or inlfation like Greenspan did. Then again he might.
d.a.n.,
“We’re actually really doing that already.”
Passively yes, well sorta passively. We’re not using our military might, though.
I’m thinking more like along the lines of what we’re accused of doing in Iraq. I mean, really how difficult would it be for us to usurp the oil wealth in Iraq for our own purposes, claiming that they owe us for freeing them? It would be totally immoral and unethical, and sure the rest of the world would throw a fit, but… At this point can we as citizens truly feel our government is somehow above that sort of thing?
Posted by: Stephanie at October 25, 2005 05:20 PMStephanie
The pice of pork at the top of my comments is for GA. My home state. That’s what I meant by my question.
mattLaw,
Simply put, an anti-incumbency movement takes passion to be successful. Typically people are more passionate about federal government, than state government, or they’re more passionate about state government, than county or city government. To motivate people to act against incumbents in local incumbents, first we have to convince them to act against federal incumbents because most people pay more attention to the federal level of our government.
Posted by: Stephanie at October 25, 2005 05:31 PMRon,
I kind of figured, but I was more admitting to the fact that I don’t know for a fact that all 50 states are receiving federal pork. I’m just assuming that at this point.
Posted by: Stephanie at October 25, 2005 05:35 PMRon Brown wrote:
The only kind of pork ANY state should have is the kind that comes from the 4 footed pigs, not the 2 footed ones in DC.
That’s funny! Good one.
I have a mental image of them running all about D.C.
Stephanie,
Good points. I’m not too concerned about state government. I don’t see as many abuses there, though some exist. The local government in Texas seems a bit more transparent. Also, we don’t run deficits.
d.a.n.,
The abuse is probably there, it’s just not as apparent because they can’t do quite as much with it as the federal government can. The federal government has more money, more power, and more prowess than any state government.
Posted by: Stephanie at October 25, 2005 08:44 PMDan & Stephanie,
While can and does take place in our local and state government, the vast majority of our elected officials try to do what is right. The problem that I have found prevelent throughout all forms and levels of our government is the lack of the ability/capability for those working for the government (i.e. “We the People) to provide “We the Consumers” what is our Civil and Constitutional Rights.
Combine that with the fact that as a society we do not teach our children these rights and the disconnect is made. The wider that gap grows the more abuse and corruption is allowed into the system. Are you willing to stake your children’s children future on it? Did you know that during tight budget years some directors of these entitlement problems use policy changes to narrow what assistance is commonly known by the public?
Change is not just needed in the parties, but they way we look at how government, society, and “We the People” interact. Are we here to serve society or as Americans do we use the societal tools found in our government so that they serve us in building that more perfect union envisioned by The Founding Fathers?
Posted by: Henry Schlatman at October 25, 2005 09:15 PMConcerning our US Constitution, we are a nation of laws, not men. We all know that, but, just like this VOID movement, our national experiment calls for directions in our course at times. Theodore Roosevelt was not only very intelligent, but had the guts to return idealism to our federal government. One of the first places to correct, with a bunch of new members of Congress, is to return to obeying our Founding Fathers and later amenders of our nation’s Constitution.
Posted by: David Weller at October 25, 2005 10:40 PMDavid Weller,
So you to have noticed that their idea of government still hasn’t been proven wrong. Have you noticed that some people in government and society is finally “Getting It” Now, wait until they gather their voice on the subject matter of the issues.
The constitution is our guide (despite a few flaws).
We need it.
We need laws, and they need to be enforced.
It’s now a matter of compliance.
Unfortunately, the laws are often perverted by corrupt government, to do the very things they’re supposed to prevent.
There are many, many wise things in the constitution.
One minor flaw, unforseen perhaps in the beginning, was government for sale, influence peddling, that have given rise to the Political Class, that usurps the voice of the people.
It’s supposed to be Government OF / BY / FOR The People. Not just a few puppets and some that abuse vast wealth and power.
Government should not be For Sale.
Campaign Finance and Election Reform need attention.
Also, Election Fraud is a problem too.
We’ve got illegal aliens voting in our elections. How the hell did that happen ?
I say let the pork farmer resign. I love how he spins this into taking money from Alaska. Oh poor Alaska! What will you do without your bridge to nowhere?
Posted by: mister fireplaces at October 26, 2005 03:58 PMd.a.n. & others,
d.a.n. said: “We need laws, and they need to be enforced.”
Part of the corruption within our government is the laws are not all being enforced or are not being enforced equally to all law-breakers.
Compliance isn’t the only issue, it’s also a matter of politicians being willing to take note of and act against fellow politicians when laws are being broken. If standing up against a fellow politician that is breaking (or bending) the law only takes place on partisan lines, then we have a really big problem in this country, because it makes it very difficult to know wherein the truth lies.
For instance, concerning the investigation in the hands of Mr. Fitzgerald: The Reps consistently say no law has been broken, whereas the Dems consistently say a law has been broken. How are the people supposed to know the truth? More importantly, is the truth even important to those who are holding office, both those doing the accusing and those white-washing what took place; do they care about the truth, or do they only care about their political careers and the positive and negative impacts this incident may have on them? Honestly, I don’t know, but I don’t trust any of them to be motivated by truth!
Truth is essential in a democracy, and truly in any form of government. Having a passion and a respect for the truth is the difference between a well-run government and a corrupt one. Right now, we have a corrupt government that cares little for the truth.
When there is as much corruption in government as we have in ours it makes little difference if the particular politicians in office went in there with good intentions, or if they honestly believe they are doing their jobs, even while ignoring the great injustices that are transpiring around them. The only way for this to change is to excise the corruption out of the government by excising not only those who commit these acts of injustice, but also those who turn a blind eye to these acts of injustice and thus allow them to transpire.
Posted by: Stephanie at October 26, 2005 04:14 PMStephanie wrote: …politicians in office went in there with good intentions …
The problem is a strange disease the politicians are stricken with just after being elected. It’s called “jelly brain” disease. They forget all their talk of integrity, work for the people, ignore special interest influences, refrain from pork-barrel, graft, waste, and their campaign promises (e.g. “read my lips”, “that depends on what the definition of “is” is, etc.).
This strange disease not only renders politicians useless, but dangerous. They vote for pork-barrel (e.g. $100,000 for the Tiger Woods Foundation), rather than body armour for troops. And, the disease also exhibits a strange euphoria in which all politicians acquire a uncontrollable bad habit of spending and borrowing and spending and borrowing. They dream up all sorts of things to spend on, so they can borrow more, and spend more on things such as the following:
[] Vote for $75,000 for Onondaga County for the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.
[] Vote for $150,000 added in conference for the Coca-Cola Space Science Center in Columbus, Ga.
[] Vote for $250,000 added by the House for the North Creek Ski Bowl in the district of House appropriator John Sweeney (R-N.Y.).
[] Vote for $250,000 added by the Senate for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. to support community programs.
[] Vote for $775,000 for the Biltmore Hotel in the district of Rep. Ileana Ros- Lehtinen (R-Fla.).
[] Vote for $100,000 for the Tiger Woods Foundation.
[] Vote for $300,000 for Baltimore for the relocation of the Center Garage.
[] Vote for millions for underutilized bridges in Alaska and West Virginia.
[] Vote for $5000 for gold embossed cards for Air Force One (this is important?)
And, they also acquire a disturbing knack for ignoring serious problems, as evidenced by our many serious problems growing in number and severity.
So, if we’re ever going to ever remedy this problem, we’re going to need to first oust the infected members, and find a cure for this strange and tragic disease, so that their replacements aren’t stricken too.
Posted by: d.a.n at October 27, 2005 02:31 AMI have breakfast with several elderly gentlemen, and they all have this insight (no matter if they are Rs, Ds or Is): As soon as a representative enters office, he/she receives a special interest at their office door. The visitor says, “Now, what do you need?” The valiant rep. says he is fine. “No, really, what do you want??” These gentlemen know the circus their green public officials enter, and that it is the “real world”. I feel sorry for them..
Posted by: David Weller at October 27, 2005 03:10 AMDavid Weller,
Exactly and until we deal with that problem the story is not going to change. Any good ideas?
We, the voters, can break that cycle, by voting out incumbents and voting in newbies (especially quality third party and Independent candidates). The long-time and loyal Democratic and Republican families will vote for their incumbents or replacements from their own party. But by the simple to understand concept of VOID (Vote Out Incumbents Democracy at http://www.poliwatch.org/void/ ), perhaps we can get enough Ind., Third Party and traditionally non-voting citizens to the polls to send a clear message to our Representatives in Washington, that we, the owners of this great country, do not want to see more fiscal irresponsibility or political unaccountability. I think it is a worthwhile cause at this time in US history, what with the dangerous and calcified fiscal problems and political corruption we are witnessing right now.
Posted by: David Weller at October 27, 2005 07:32 AMWe have to resist being seduced into the petty partisan politics and clever distractions that keep us from seeing what is going on. We have to try being non-partisan for awhile. I know it’s hard, because it took me 47 years to finally see through it, and realize that the main parties are just taking turns being irresponsible and unaccountable. Can anyone name more than a very few that aren’t on the Pork-Barrel/Graft wagon ?
That’s why it doesn’t seem to matter who we vote for. It’s not because we’re all bad jugdges of character all the time. It’s because the federal government is dysfunctional, and the “Political Class” has more than it’s fair share of power. There’s an easy, safe, quick way to restore a balance of power between government and The People. The People must use their vote as it was always intended. Oust irresponsible government, that is threatening our future. The hard part is getting people to let go of their blasted, misplaced partisan loyalties. I know. I was one of them.
________________________________________
I see PC (Political Class) people !
The first problem we as voters need to address concerning incumbent fatigue is realizing we suffer from it.
It’s easy to blame all that’s wrong on the “other guy.” It’s easy to say, “Oh, well, the government is corrupt because the Republicans are in office, and of course they’re all corrupt!” then drown out the response, “Hey! Clinton and company were corrupt too!” We have to stop exchanging partisan blame and stop and listen to each other. Once we do that, we all can realize it’s not any one party that’s corrupt, but the entire system.
Believe it or not, I was swayed to the side of Republicans last election cycle because I KNEW the Democrats were corrupt. I grew up hearing about Clinton’s corruption on a regular basis and I KNEW I didn’t want any part of that corrupted political outlook. It seems kind of absurd now, seeing how the Republicans have performed; and yet I’m not convinced the Democrats are any less corrupt because of the way they’ve reacted. It’s a sad state to be in, really, when the two most power political organizations are too corrupt to be entrusted with the reins of our government. I mean, it’s down-right surreal in some sad, serious ways!
But, realizing the problem is only the first step. The second step is raising awareness. Once you really see this problem for what it is, it’s hard to keep quiet. RAISE YOUR VOICE!!! Be heard. Let people know that you’re not going to take the corruption any more! Let your fellow voters know that action NEEDS to be taken.
But, then… with so much power resting in the hands of our obviously corrupted government, what can we do? That’s the third step, folks! We have to vote! We have to consistently and adamantly vote AGAINST ALL INCUMBENTS!!! Then and only then will the politicians get the message that we’re onto their game and we’re NOT GOING TO PLAY ANY MORE!!! If they want to play around with our government, then they’re going to lose their seat. It’s a whole new game folks, call it musical chairs and know this: THE INCUMBENTS ARE GOING TO LOSE!!!
Posted by: Stephanie at October 27, 2005 09:01 PMD.A.N. & Stephanie,
Welcome to the world of political enlightenment. Although both parties get drunk with power, it is up to “We the People” with the help of the media to force our elected officials accountably for what they did. However, I must admit that I have not seen our governmet like this since the late 60’s and early 70’s. Do you think that history may be repeating itself?
Yes, Henry.
I do believe in cycles.
A respected economist eludes to an 80 year cycle: http://home.comcast.net/~d.a.n/The80YearCycle.gif
It’s an interesting theory.
But, I’m not ready, yet, to believe we are incapable of learning to stop repeating history.
We may be about to restart the cycle soon (a fourth time), but hopefully, someday (if the nation survives the next one), we’ll learn to avoid the negative parts of the cycle.
Stephanie,
Absolutely !
I don’t want to play their game anymore.
I’m tired of letting them take turns using and abusing us.
People need to take off their partisan blinders.
It’s not the evil Republicans or the evil Democrats.
It’s both of them (and the majority aren’t evil; they’re simply selfish, irresponsible, and unaccountable).
The funny thing is (OK, more sad than funny), we, the voters, The People, have at our disposal, something that’s been under our nose the whole time, that is really the most simple, easy, quick, safe, inexpensive, non-partisan, peaceful, easy to understand, easy to communicate and share, wise, and most responsible thing to do that can peacefully force a balance of power (not simply shift) between government and the people.
That’s what we were all supposed to be doing all along.
