Sometimes changes can be made without vilifying specific people or groups of people. When people who want change look at the processes used, they can often find changes in those processes which increase the chances of desired results being produced. Some idea & questions are presented below. What other ideas do you have – or how do you evaluate the ideas presented?
Why have BOTH parties been allowed to gavel in and then gavel out within a few minutes – and call that “being in session” for the day? What is the benefit – other than for political purposes – of so doing?
Why are laws not made easily available on the Internet for a predefined period of time before a vote is allowed? How many times have you heard of a complex law being changed overnight and either the Senate or the House being required to vote on it the next day – without a reasonable opportunity for members of Congress, their staffs nor the public to understand the changes before a vote is required? Does that make sense? Why or why not?
Why do committee assignments get made the way they do? Does this give too much power to a few in each party and thus, give leaders of BOTH parties the ability to “influence” how their caucus members will vote on legislation?
Why can members of Congress or their staffs or family members be allowed to accept ANY benefit from lobbyists? … or why shouldn’t ALL benefits received be reported on a publicly accessible WEB site within 24 hours of their receipt?
Why should members of Congress, their staff members or extended family be allowed to profit from their inside knowledge of information?
What ideas do you have and what are the pros and cons of ideas listed above?
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/08/28/what-happened-to-the-middle-class.aspx
Over the years, globalization has taken many jobs overseas – free market capitalism has done that and there is nothing illegal about any of that !! In addition, technology has automated a huge number of jobs, eliminating them forever.
Salaries in the services sector are not always lucrative and many jobs do not pay enough to support a family. Additionally, many sector jobs are part time positions that do not offer benefits (such as decent health insurance).
Our country faces new challeneges now and in the future. All of us need to understand that the old ways will not work – and that these challenges are so huge it will take us all working together to even have a chance at overcoming them.
Instead of wasting time going back and forth between Democrats and Republicans, let’s tell members of both parties that they need to get on the same team – for the good of our country. The more time that is wasted, the harder and more expensive each challenge will be to overcome – and our chances of success diminish. Think long term and not just for today.
We actually need to invest in several key areas – and government incentives along with public/private partnerships make a huge difference.
Almost everyone believes that to fix the deficit will take a balanced approach – combining decreases in spending with increases in revenue. EVERYONE is going to need to sacrifice some in order to give our country a chance at maintaining our historical preeminence in the world. Our country’s future is NOT GUARANTEED – we need to find ways to work together as a patriotic team rather than as two competing parties and a bunch of self-interested individual politicians.
While it sounds so good, easy and painless when politicians and other special interests say “We can fix our deficit issues by cutting spending without raising taxes.”, it just “ain’t” so !!! DO NOT FALL FOR MESSAGES THAT SOUND TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE !!!! You know the old saying …. !!! It probably is !!!
So many of us are so cynical about government (and for very legitimate reasons) – but then we turn around and support people who mislead us and tell us what we want to hear, regardless of whether it is feasible.
BOTH parties are going to have to come to the middle, work together and compromise to solve our country’s fiscal woes.
The Norquist Pledge embeds hard and fast ideology into the political process and keeps it from working the way our founding fathers carefully and thoughtfully designed it.
Any politician that signs that Pledge is, IMO, either naive or disingenuous. Because “the Pledge” so impedes our nation’s law making process, one might even think it unpatriotic !!!
I admire Jeff Fortenberry, my Representative in the House, for withdrawing his support for the Norquist Pledge. Unfortunately, too many others assume that ideological stance – and thus refuse to become a member of a larger team, focusing on solving the nation’s problems first and their political self-interest second.
Former Governor and US Senator Bob Kerrey repeatedly told the truth during last Saturday’s one and only debate (his opponent has so far not agreed to additional and televised debates) and his opponent repeatedly refused to acknowledge that a balanced approach is needed. Over and over we heard those tempting words “I am against cutting benefits and against raising taxes.” Open minded Nebraskans will recognize that position as political pandering and realize that sacrifice by all is needed – and will support Mr. Kerrey’s campaign to return to the Senate. You can watch an archived copy of the debate @ omaha.com.
Tell your Congressman to put aside their ideology and withdraw their support of the pledge – and be open minded about how BOTH parties need to work together, compromising to actually solve our big problems and our current/future challenges.
I do not want our country to become a 2nd class or 2nd tier nation. Yet one has to wonder that, if by putting their party and personal self-interest ahead of country, many of our current set of politicians aren’t taking us down that road !!!!
the empowered electorate 