Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Sad But True
Date:	8/29/2015 12:58:50 PM

For all their bravado, the Right is all talk and no action. Just another example of Right Wing incompetence. 

"According to a July Gallup poll, public approval of Congress has fallen to near-record lows. On average, 34% of the population approves of a given Congress. The current 114th Congress has a 17% approval rating.

Americans have reason to be concerned. According to GovTrack.us, the last two Congresses have enacted fewer laws than any other Congress since 1947. And the 114th Congress may just surpass them all in terms of doing nothing.

House Speaker John Boehner has argued that “We ought to be judged on how many laws we repeal"—not by the laws they pass. Even by that metric, Boehner’s Congress is still underperforming as a law must be passed to repeal another one."

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	Sad But True
Date:	8/29/2015 4:18:41 PM

There may be a number of explanations for this, but one of them surely has to be that the voting public has been electing politicians whose sole interest is either shrinking or dismantling the US government....not conducting the critically important business of managing the world's largest democracy.   Another issue is probably the prominence of single-issue candidates whose focus and understanding of governing is limited to attempts to codify their religion into law, or some other narrow view of what their responsibilities will be.     Gridlock became the norm when so many Congressmen have limited understanding of complex issues (Snow is proof that climate change is not happening) or willing to embrace damaging tactics to achieve their agenda (like shutting down the government in order to defund Planned Parenthood), or simply feel that negotiating with opposing views means that you have conceded defeat.

I like what Pogo said, we have met the enemy.... and it is us.   (Younger readers will need to google "Pogo")  We like catchy sound bites & empty slogans more than we like to accept that the business at hand is complicated and requires us to take the time to study the issues.   Maybe as a nation we just don't like to think very much, and our elected officials reflect that part of the national character.   

The US voting public is either apathetic or negative toward the process of governing the country.  It follows that we expect too little from the people who eventually get elected to these offices.    Words like "Statesman" or "Scholar" are never used to promote political candidates anymore, and the vicious use of character assassination in political campaigns limits the entry of sane, reasonable people into the pool of potential candidates for office.    

And only the dumbed-down Presidential race captures enough of the public's attention to arouse semi-serious public debate.

Rant over.  Next.

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	AMEN
Date:	8/29/2015 4:25:55 PM (updated 8/29/2015 4:27:55 PM)

The current congress is a sad and, more importantly dangerous bunch of crazies.  On both sides of the aisle in both chambers one would be hard pressed to count on your 10 fingers the number of members who put our nation and her people before their party and its ideology!

My biggest question is how in the name of common sense could that many (17%) approve of what is going on under the D C dome!

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	AMEN, Archie
Date:	8/30/2015 12:19:21 PM (updated 8/30/2015 12:32:13 PM)

Archie, the answer is "who is answering the poll"? 

Shut off the EBT cards for awhile and take another poll. Bet you there will be a difference in the poll then.

46 million EBTers out of 320 million  =  14%   +  3% rabid demorats is close to 17%

If you let the takers vote, you eventually will have a taker majority.

(my apologies to the truly needy)

or from an older dude................

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the people discover they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the canidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy--to be followed by a dictatorship.”
? Alexander Fraser Tytler

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Nonsense...but not surprising
Date:	8/31/2015 3:55:07 PM (updated 8/31/2015 3:57:27 PM)

I am reasonably certain that, considering the make up of the current congress and the actions (or lack thereof) they have taken, that any support for that August body is not likely to come from the groups you claim.  Now, can you let us all know who the "truly needy" are and how you in your own mind make that determination?

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	How about this one Shortie
Date:	8/31/2015 8:16:14 PM (updated 8/31/2015 8:17:18 PM)

Quinnipiac poll:

Democrats in congress.........Approve 27% / disapprove 66%  (AWFUL!!)

Republicans in congress.......Approve 12% / disapprove 81%  (MAKING EVEN THE DEMOCRATS LOOK GOOD!!)

Looks as if the Rethuglicans are skewing the overall approval...down!