"With the current crap of politics over policy,sound bytes over sound analysis,punditry
over statesmenship and debate over dialogue it cries out for changing these fundamentals.I think which of the two major parties comes closest to turning it around will be the dominate force for decades but so far no signs of life yet and a third party movement has yet to be born out of this to force both parties to wake up."
This is a fantasy of mine but as John Lennon said in a lyric:"You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one." With the current crap of politics over policy,sound bytes over sound analysis,punditry
over statesmenship and debate over dialogue it cries out for changing these fundamentals.I think which of the two major parties comes closest to turning it around will be the dominate force for decades but so far no signs of life yet and a third party movement has yet to be born out of this to force both parties to wake up.
Auditing Federal Reserve is a start to complete transparency and ethics of gov't institutions that have far too much leeway in doing what they want without too many people knowing about it until it's too late.There is so much work to be done and so much in the way of that work being done which keeps
the public's trust in gov't low.It only changes when transparency is allowed to happen.
Thoughts?
"With the current crap of politics over policy,sound bytes over sound analysis,punditry
over statesmenship and debate over dialogue it cries out for changing these fundamentals.I think which of the two major parties comes closest to turning it around will be the dominate force for decades but so far no signs of life yet and a third party movement has yet to be born out of this to force both parties to wake up."
However, I think the main reason why the public trust in government is low, is what you just stated in this quote. And, the reason that it's true is mostly because politicians are beholding to the highest bidders. I say get the money out of politics, particularly out of the political campaigns. Then you may get more people who want to serve the people vs. themselves though enriching themselves by way of the public coffers, lobbies, and big business.
It's not going to happen.
It's impossible to get money out of politics so I think the best thing to do is open the door to the public about everything involving money changing hands---campaign contributions,PACs,etc.---making it completely transparent.What really kills me though is a disturbing legal trend of recognizing corporate entities as more like 'human beings' and the Supreme Court outdid themselves by giving them 'rights' of a citizen when it came to giving them money.I think that's a cancer in of itself.
Since, bribery is illegal, they found a way around it.
Those believers in PACs probably go so far as to say money is,brace yourself,a part of free speech.Those champions for the rights of big spenders to use big bucks to get big bills passed in their favor were the original crusaders against McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform like Mitch McConnell.Mitch's side won in the end.Bribery in a different form lives.
and nothing could be further from the truth.
there are a lot of things that can be done to reform the government and provide more transparency - the problem is even though we vote for those bastards (all of them - Dems, GOPs or Indies) - they will vote however they want. Essentially, we'd be asking them to regulate themselves. Good luck on that.
Couple of things I'd like to change:
1) no more "anonymous" amendments (MONSANTO - I'm looking at you). We all know amendments get added to totally unrelated bills. It's how some of the more unsavory things get added. Both sides do it. But the people at least have a right to know WHO the sellout is. If you're taking someone's money and want to put in a favorable amendment for them, STAND UP and say it.
2) Make it so any lawmaker who's leaving can't become a lobbyist for 5 years. This one will require a lot of rules to ensure it's not too easily abused (they will find a way) and that it's not so restrictive a person can't get a legitimate job (for example, if you were an accountant before you got in office and Bob's Pharmaceuticals hires you as a accountant - you can do that, BUT won't be allowed to do ANY kind of marketing/lobby work). Yeah, this needs lots of spelling out, but I think it will help a lot.
3) Make it easier to find the major donors for every senator/congressman/president. This should be info on all of their web pages. Not hidden, but on the front page. That way if the people care, they can look at the donors and look at the votes and bill introductions.
4) Not sure this is being done, but I think it would be helpful as well. Require any company that lobbies to file a yearly report on how much they spent on who/what. This way, the public knows FOR SURE who's getting the lobby money and who's spending how much. If you're okay with Senator Jane Do from your hometown taking $XXk from John's Coal & Chocolates Company, more power to you. If not, then at least you know.
5) And I'd also like to get rid of the filibuster. It's a waste of time and money - tax payer money. We don't pay these a$$wipes to debate endlessly - we pay them to find solutions like adults, and that involves talking, negotiating and meeting somewhere agreeable. The filibuster option means adult level discussions aren't necessary. It needs to go. Will it change the juvenile behavior we've seen the last few years? No, but it would be progress IMHO...
just my thoughts. Anyways, good night, hobby safe
Someone besides me who hates the filibuster!Cool.
Just adding to the thread,what would make our democracy more of one and transparent would be a few of other things-scrapping the electoral college(I know that won't happen ever)which would totally rely on absolute majorities to determine presidential elections.A balanced budget amendment in which over 40 states have as law don't seem to have the spending abuses that D.C. has in running inexcusable,insane mountain of debt.(In 1998,the U.S. senate was one vote short of passing the BB AMEND.but the GOP who had control of senate,house and white house for 6 yrs in the 2000s never brought it up to be voted on,why?)We could use an independent decision making body appointed by the judicial branch to determine districting of the U.S. House of Representatives
that would truly do away with the hyper-partisanship we see today.Killing the filibuster in the senate is another one that stops the politics and brings back more of the policy-making.One more,instead of congressional committees determining ethics violations of their peers which we all know both parties protect their own and go after the other party if there in the minority...take it out of their hands completely and let an independent investigative body take over whose sole responsibility is to investigate possible ethics infractions or criminal law breaking.Believe that's silly?No,there already is such a set up....the GAO(Gov't Acct.Office)is an independent investigative body for the congressional budget which crunches the real numbers and not any party in power that would be in a position to make up numbers.So it's possible to have a similar body like the GAO for the purpose of congressional misconduct on any level which would further reduce partisanship and congress be held more accountable.