Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Our government is too powerful and politicians have too much opportunity to shape their wealth and career while in office. I think there should be term limits on all politicians. I like Delusianne's idea of "Draconian" campaign finance reform. Also, this whole redistricting deal is the biggest BS I've ever seen, and both parties are abusing it. We need to hold all politicians much more accountable for EVERY aspect of our government. We have allowed them to take the wheel, but I believe we can take it back. We just have to start looking at the bigger picture, the ideas we can ALL agree on, as we are doing in this great thread.
I think most if not all americans want this. Most of the posts on CD can be boiled down to either Democrats evil Republicans good, Republicans evil Democrats good. The old strategy of divide and conquer is working to perfection. I guess it is easier to hate than to want to work together on something we all can agree on, very sad.
Not really, there are laws in place about political advertising for candidates... its not a free speech issue... corporations/special interests aren't people, so the rules don't apply to them... if a CEO wants to say something, then they can say it on their own dime... but not a corporation...
Actually not true. I don't want to take the time to look up case law, but it is not true. I wish you were right.
You do realize if that ever took place... then nobody would be "able" to vote on any legislation... and when we need a "minimum" number of "Yes" votes, that would mean new bills/legislation would be impossible to pass... and then what about the Federal Budget? Nobody would be able to pass it.. instead of allowing lobbyist as you posted about... how about we BAN all and any lobbyist PERIOD... I doubt the liberals would go for that... their entire existence is tied to lobbyists...
the existance of all politicians in Washington is tied to lobbyists.
Everyone with two brain cells should understand that special interest groups have too much control over our politicians. I have a simple idea as to end this. Not complicated. Does not take a 1000 page bill. Here is the bill.
If a representative takes any money in contributions or from lobbyist in any form, that representative may not vote on any bill that would affect the special interest group. Also, the representative may not lobby on behalf of the special interest group to have any other representative vote for or against a bill affecting the special interest group. Furthermore, no representative will be allowed to work for or receive financial compensation from a speciail interest group that he voted for or against in any legislation within 5 years after he leaves office.
Any representative found in violation by a court of law and not the house rules committee will be found in violation and guilty of a felony punishable with up to 10 years in prison.
I don't care if it is the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Insurance companies, or the national association of farters. It is time to take our government back.
I think town halls at home should be a required duty of every elected official, two a year at least. As long as it takes, no pre-selected questioners, be prepared to explain and show the reasons for every vote and uncast vote, every trip taken outside the home state (or county, or DC).
Transcripts and DVDs provided free from his/her office and from the public access studio or PBS studio where it was shot.
The other side of this is that the citizens attending have to be prepared -- know the official's voting record and basically his/her every move since going to Washington or the state capital -- this isnt hard to find.
This doesnt have to be a law -- the people just need to make it clear that they'll vote for the guys who want to communicate and not vote for the guys who dont.
This would be great IMO but it wd have to start at the lowest municipal levels, and grow from there.
Participation, what a novel concept. The only serious way of showing these officials who's the boss.
Then you run into the problem of only the rich being able to campaign properly, even if that's pretty much the case today.
True, but if there was a government sponsored website that had all the information on the candidate and where they stand on each and every issue, that would be very helpful. When the primaries come have debates...real debates not the crap that we have now where they each give prepared statements without argueing back and forth.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
