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I think it's gotten to the point where the job description for our elected officials has changed from representing us (the citizens in their district or state) to winning for their party (at whatever cost) so that they can maintain control (or gain control).
They have half the country tied up in their party politics and it's distracted everyone from what their suppose to be doing....representing US. They go back and forth making claims about the other party that are one of two things.......it's either something they're equally guilty of or an inaccurate label....an insult....name calling. It allows them to win elections without having to do their job and blame others for the reason they couldn't.
Why does it happen?......because we've grown to tolerate it.
Our congressmen/women get elected because roughly a little more than have of the people they represent, voted for them. That doesn't mean the other people, which are roughly a little less than half, don't exist....it's not meant to be a winner take all victory for their party. It means the majority (and most of us don't belong to a party) voted for them to represent the entire district/state in Washington.
Decisions are made on what's going to get them re-elected which does not necessarily mean it with what their constituents. The health care bill is a mess....people are finally starting to see that it falls far short of being a solution. If it becomes law, all it will be is a victory for one of the two parties in congress and a disappointment for all of us (whether you're a democrat, independent or republican).
I think we need to seriously look at putting term limits in place for congress. They're are good reasons for not having them but, without them it's allowing seniority to have too much influence (power)....and that shouldn't be the case....they each represent US equally.
The elected officials are not stupid. The masses are stupid and ignorant.
The masses are distracted by sports, celebrities, and useless trivia. Fooling the masses is not much of a challenge.
Negative campaigning is used because it works. The masses are the vast majority and drag down everything to their low level.
Don't blame the elected officials for the ignorance of the masses.
When, no matter what they do or not do does not mean getting ousted next election, why would you expect they think they need to actually pay attention to the desires of their constituency?
Incumbents are most often re-elected.
The reason our elected officials don't "do their jobs" anymore, in my opinion?
1. They are more committed to their party than their country
2. The cost of campaigning has risen to such ridiculous heights that the only way they can be elected is spending millions of dollars....which they raise by selling their votes on issues to the highest bidder. The people who actually elect them are really of no concern to them anymore...just those who give them money.
3. They are out of touch with the people they represent. They become professional politicians who live in the cocoon of the beltway and only listen to the lobbyist and one another...and the talking heads on radio and television. They don't experience what we experience and they don't feel our pain...whatever they may say.
4. They have lost their honor....if they ever had any to begin with....and care for self more than country.
The minute they win they think they are bigger than any one else...specially the Dem. who should have listened to the people but now are in for a huge loss in 2010.
Why don't our elected officials do what's right for US anymore
When is the last time you voted for an incumbent?
When is the last time you voted for a major party candidate?
How many times have you voted for a third party candidate?
The answer to your question is... because voting results tell them they don't have to.
Because they are beholden to the special interests that contribute heavily to their campaigns. They see their "job" not as a service to their constituancy, but as an opportunity to secure a comfortable lifelong position that gives them power, and getting re-elected is their top priority. They know that getting re-elected means manipulating public opinion, not actually working to better the lives of their constituents. BOTH political parties are in the pockets of special interests. . . . a brief but telling comment: Rebuplicans are in the pockets of Big Business; Democrats are in the pocket of Trial lawyers. . . it goes far beyond that, of course, but that's it, in a nutshell!
Because the DNC knows darn well that Democrats will not vote for a Republican or Independant because you like your handouts so much.
And the RNC knows darn well that Republicans wont vote for a Democrat or an Independant because they like their handouts so much.
The two party system is a sham. It's a one party system backed by corporate/banks.
Just go look at contributions...they give to both sides. Doesn't matter who wins - they get what they want.
Our elected officials are doing what their constituents want..it's just that we are not the constituents. One day people will wake up.
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