Do they VOTE? With passion and enthusiasm?

[Small Market Guy]

Congress can pass laws creating bureaucracies within the Executive branch, such as the EPA, and may empower such agencies to write regulations that have the weight of law. Congress can also empower such agencies to enforce their regulations as if they were laws. Anyone working at an FCC licensed broadcast station has experienced that situation.

Congress also has oversight of those agencies and that oversight is being ignored. That's where the system is broken.

 

[Avid Listener]

Congress also has oversight of those agencies and that oversight is being ignored. That's where the system is broken.

That's true. However, the breakage is due to partisan politics. The way Congress exercises its power is through the checkbook. It stops agencies by cutting off funding. The problems arise when deals are cut to secure pork for the folks back home by swapping support for each others' pet project appropriations bills. There's a simple solution. Elect different people, better people.

 

[TheBigA]

The problems arise when deals are cut to secure pork for the folks back home by swapping support for each others' pet project appropriations bills.

Rule #1: The way to get other people to do what you want is give them something they want in return. It worked for James Madison in 1789. It should work now.

 

[Silkie]

Or just wait until they come down.

 

[boombox4]

Rule #1: The way to get other people to do what you want is give them something they want in return. It worked for James Madison in 1789. It should work now.

The art of negotiation. Something lost on Congress today. Although, I've got to give Senator Patty Murray and Paul Ryan some props for being able to negotiate. It was a rarity.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

The art of negotiation. Something lost on Congress today. Although, I've got to give Senator Patty Murray and Paul Ryan some props for being able to negotiate. It was a rarity.

Your observation is right... but maybe not complete. Is it Congress that has lost the ability to negotiate... or is it American voters who have abandoned negotiation? Isn't it interest that Murray and Ryan are from states where someone of either party can be elected by the voters.

We have a bunch of states where the voters "take no prisoners" as the old cliche goes. I refer you to the current news story of Eric Cantor. If you have a bunch of voters back home with the "lynch mob mentality"... why would you on the best day of your life think you could compromise in Congress.... and (politically) live to tell about it.

It it real easy for all of us to sit home and yell "Throw the bums out!" about our Congressmen. But are we willing to put a little yard-sign up for a congressman or senator of the minority party in our own yard. I guess this is the year I get to face that question in my own neighborhood.

If I am too chicken to put an unpopular campaign sign in my yard, why would I have any dreams that my congressman would actually sit down and negotiate in Washington?

Something is lost on THE POPULACE today.

 

[boombox4]

Your observation is right... but maybe not complete. Is it Congress that has lost the ability to negotiate... or is it American voters who have abandoned negotiation? Isn't it interest that Murray and Ryan are from states where someone of either party can be elected by the voters.

We have a bunch of states where the voters "take no prisoners" as the old cliche goes. I refer you to the current news story of Eric Cantor. If you have a bunch of voters back home with the "lynch mob mentality"... why would you on the best day of your life think you could compromise in Congress.... and (politically) live to tell about it.

It it real easy for all of us to sit home and yell "Throw the bums out!" about our Congressmen. But are we willing to put a little yard-sign up for a congressman or senator of the minority party in our own yard. I guess this is the year I get to face that question in my own neighborhood.

If I am too chicken to put an unpopular campaign sign in my yard, why would I have any dreams that my congressman would actually sit down and negotiate in Washington?

Something is lost on THE POPULACE today.

I think it's a bit of both. Last year on the radio there was a story about the 'lack of civility' in government, and observers talking about the 'good old days' when Reagan and Tip O'Neal could negotiate legislation and get something accomplished.

This is why I hope that what Senator Murray and Congressman Ryan were able to do is set as an example to others in Congress. Maybe pressure from the public for Congress to step up to the plate will induce more of our representatives in DC to hash out their differences, learn to negotiate, and come up with a few solutions to the budget mess, something to help the economy.

RE: the Populace. I think there is an increasing lack of civility, and more of a herd mentality than there was even 20 years ago. I don't know what the cause is; part of it may be talk radio, part of it may be the internet. Some of it may be that negotiation and debate aren't taught well enough in the schools.

I have no idea how it can be solved.