"Anti-Incumbent" mood make a dent? (house, taxes)

[Gurbie]

I posted this in the US Politics forum, but wanted to share it with you guys (generic) and get your reactions:

According to an article today from The Center For Responsive Politics, the House incumbent re-election rate in the 2010 was 85.6%. That sounds high, but it is actually the lowest return rate for congressmen since 1946. By contrast, the return rate in 1998 was 98%.

So, while it doesn't look like much, when you consider how entrenched these people are, it does look like the anti-incumbent mood did take a toll.

The Dems, of course, took the brunt of it, since their party is in powe, and they held most of the contested seats.

I wasn't able to find specific results for California's 53 congressional districts, but an article in Politicoin July stated only two Ca races were considered "competitive", so we may have bucked the national trend here as well.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Gurbie

I wasn't able to find specific results for California's 53 congressional districts, but an article in Politico in July stated only two Ca races were considered "competitive" , so we may have bucked the national trend here as well.

You can thank gerrymandered districts established by the Legislature for that. Thankfully, the people had the good sense to reject their attempt to regain that ability.

Good on ya, Californios!

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Gurbie

I posted this in the US Politics forum, but wanted to share it with you guys (generic) and get your reactions:

According to an article today from The Center For Responsive Politics, the House incumbent re-election rate in the 2010 was 85.6%. That sounds high, but it is actually the lowest return rate for congressmen since 1946. By contrast, the return rate in 1998 was 98%.

So, while it doesn't look like much, when you consider how entrenched these people are, it does look like the anti-incumbent mood did take a toll.

The Dems, of course, took the brunt of it, since their party is in powe, and they held most of the contested seats.

I wasn't able to find specific results for California's 53 congressional districts, but an article in Politicoin July stated only two Ca races were considered "competitive", so we may have bucked the national trend here as well.

It's a dent, but only a small one. Americans don't have the guts to accept the difficult changes that are ahead. That means real reform of programs such as:

1. Medicare/Medicaid (blowing a lot of money on a bloated and inefficient health care system). Real reform would make it a truly competitive system, but Americans seem to think either A. it's fine as it is or B. throwing even more money at it/more government control will fix the system. Neither will work. Americans also need to get off the idea that taking more pills will fix all our problems. It's time for us to get away from the processed foods that cause the long term chronic diseases of high blood pressure, heart diseases, some cancers, diabetes, & obesity.

2. Social Security: The retirement age will need to be raised again and/or benefits reduced.

3. Taxes: There probably is some need for tax increases, although this should be a last resort after #1 and #2 are set on a sustainable course.

Americans don't want to do any of these things and have proven again and again they're crisis oriented.

I fear we won't take positive action until we have an economic collapse that will make 2008 look like a walk in the park.