Social Sense
I've been saying that right along Mustang, about the House and the Senate. Americans should be at least as concerned about these two bodies as they are about the President. Everybody is so quick to blame or credit the President for things that are either good or bad when the bitching or the praise should go to Congress.
Mustang,
One of the questions I've had for the longest,... why has the ratio of voters to representatives not kept up with the census?... I believe the ratio now is in the ballpark of over 400,000 persons being represented by each Congress-person, correct? Is there a better, or ideal ratio?...
The President get's all the attention because that's the only truly "national" race. Even so, the House is the one that opens the purse-strings. Now if only more people really did think about their Representative and whether there's a better alternative out there.
The time to start exerting our power over our Representative starts the day he or she takes the oath of office. The campaign starts when the new legislative session begins.
I agree Mustang. Americans need to pay more attention to their representatives than the President. The House was designed to directly link the people to the legislative body. House representatives represent the people of their district.
Spot on, as usual.
For some reason, constitutionally-ignorant voters, quite a majority of voters, seem not to understand that there is any other election other than that for POTUS, especially every four years. I've observed this phenomenon, an abomination to our Founders IMO, for years. **scratches head in puzzlement**
And not all constitutionally-ignorant voters are young by any means. For example, a while back, one of our friends about 45 years of age said that GWB must not be allowed to run again for POTUS. He simply didn't know about the term limits for the office!
In my view, the politicians on Capitol Hill live a very isolated existence when it comes to the will of their constituents. Once in office, they pretty much take if for granted that they'll be re-elected. Do they even read the correspondence they receive?
mustang, Great minds must run in the same channel...I was thinking of how much power we as individuals have with our congresscritters...Not much...In order to change them the party must approve of someone of the same party running against the one they approve of....And if they don't have party approval....they're out...
I often look at this problem and wonder if, indeed, We, the People have already given away our control.
I then look at We, the People and wonder if truly given more control, how bright would they be. Would they exercise good judgement?
I am not so sure.
Nagin and Jefferson in LA are two examples of people seeing complete incompetence and criminality and still vote scoundrels back for another term.
I think term limits for judges and for congressmen/women and senators would be a mighty fine idea. And here's another only slightly off message: do away with tenure for professors and teachers. Why, indeed, are they so priviledged?
Now, I will take my non-tenured old frame down from my office to teach a night class.
Lets face it. No matter where you look, we the people, have NO control. It does not matter - at the end of the day we are singing to the choir and I will seek refuge in the Lord.
I did not make this mess - and though I try hard to clean it up it just gets more mirky.
Sometimes it is best to just let it all play out.
Two things I would do
Make a change that had Representatives and Senators paid by the state they represent at a level set by that state. That would serve as a little reminder of who they are really working for.
Then every time they adjourn for a recess they must submit to the people of their district/state a written explanation of what they have done, which will be countered by a member of the opposite party, both of which will be available to voters. This will force them individually to explain or defends their actions or lack of action.
The missing part of this conversation is that the congressional districts are gerrymandered so that one party is dominate. So a Republican in Tom De;ays old district will get elected even if he can't spell republican. There are Democratic districts that are safe for Democrats. The thing that will get the attention of our representatives would be to make every district rectangular, the size of the rectangle would be determined by the population density,
Our basic problem is that of "the foxes guarding he henhouse."
I do agree with your thoughts here, Mustang. I have decided to work hard here at the local and state level to produce good candidates for office that can then advance to the national level - House of Rep first. It's important.
Good post.
I believe if we had more people voting (a higher percentage) our Reps would take us more seriously. They are simply going where the greatest reward is. They get more from their donors than they do the voters. f they had to live in fear of getting voted out, they may be a little more attentive.
We had a local Congressmen, not mine a neighboring district, that was raising a fuss about the discretionary funds each Congressmen gets so the leadership stripped him of his funds for that year. He had a fit. It's the age old defintion of pork barrel spending, only other Congressmen do it.
I absolutely agree!
I have posted a link in my blog roll to a list of bills presently before Congress, as well as a link to how to get in touch with one's representatives.
The vote is important, but just as important is constant contact with our lawmakers...both to drive them a little batty (as if that is needed), and to let them know where we stand on an issue.
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