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A forthcoming book called The Confessions of Congressman X,purportedly written by a sitting (and rumored to be Democratic) congressman, promises to be an anonymous revelation of everything terrible you've always suspected about America's representatives in Washington. Choice quotes about Congress include:
- "Most of my colleagues are dishonest career politicians who revel in the power and special-interest money that's lavished upon them."
- "My main job is to keep my job, to get reelected. It takes precedence over everything."
- "Fundraising is so time consuming I seldom read any bills I vote on. Like many of my colleagues, I don't know how the legislation will be implemented, or what it'll cost."
- "The average man on the street actually thinks he influences how I vote. Unless it's a hot-button issue, his thoughts are generally meaningless. I'll politely listen, but I follow the money."
- "Voters are incredibly ignorant and know little about our form of government and how it works."
- "It's far easier than you think to manipulate a nation of naive, self-absorbed sheep who crave instant gratification."
In other shocking news, gravity still works today.
So this guy, this Congressperson, is selling a book telling everybody that Congress is as craven and corrupt as we believe it is. I'm immediately left wondering why I should buy it.
My high school football coach used to tell me my 3 point stance was so bad it made him want to take a ****.
So, assuming the book is a look at what makes most politicians tick, I'm thinking this would make great bathroom reading material.
No, I'm not shocked. Last I recall, though, there was a time that one side tried to keep corporate money out of politics...and the other side insisted that corporate money in politics was "freedom of speech". Which side was it that celebrated "Citizens United"?
And since the side that equated money with freedom of speech "won", both sides are forced to follow the money, even when they really don't want to. This is a classic case of "be careful what you wish for"...because this is what the "money is speech" Right has ensured will be entrenched in our political system for generations to come.
Glenn, you left the unions out up there in that post. If unions can do it, so can corporations. When you support the elimination of union contributions to political campaigns, maybe you'll have a leg to stand on when making that complaint.
I agree with you - get ALL money out of politics...have it ALL publicly funded, like England does. Because that is the only - repeat, the ONLY - way to get all money out of politics, to keep our politicians from being beholden to donors. Would you agree with me on that?
I would, with the caveat that this will never, ever happen no matter how much we'd like to see it. Getting money out of politics is like attempting to remove the fruitiness from strawberries.
England did it. Why can't we?
We aren't England.
I would, with the caveat that this will never, ever happen no matter how much we'd like to see it. Getting money out of politics is like attempting to remove the fruitiness from strawberries.
Ah. So they're somehow less human - or more human - than we are? If you'll recall, many of the freedoms we have, have their roots in their Magna Carta.
Why do you say that? We have had far more limitations on political money in the past. Why couldn't we do it all the way this time? Are we retarded as a country?
Indeed. They are, however, more English than we are. It's one thing to do in a nation of 50 million. It's quite another to do so in a nation 7 times larger, and one that has defined modern capitalism. I don't believe our situation is comparable to that of England to the degree you think.
Indeed. They are, however, more English than we are. It's one thing to do in a nation of 50 million. It's quite another to do so in a nation 7 times larger, and one that has defined modern capitalism. I don't believe our situation is comparable to that of England to the degree you think.
No, that's not it at all. It's because the political power in this country has a vested interest in things remaining as they are, and that's true regardless of party. Understand, the people you would necessarily have to count on to achieve the changes you desire are the very same people profitting from the system as it currently exists.
So dark money in politics is a tenet of capitalism like our antiquated and inefficient health care system? Why do we need to fight off so many disadvantages? Is capitalism that fragile?
Is it? By the end of Bush 43's first term, would any of us have thought that gay marriage would be legal in all 50 states today? Would any of us have thought that we would elect - twice - a black guy whose dad was from Kenya and whose middle name was Hussein? Remember, the only constant is change.
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