Why do our elected officials, seem to continually be at odds, not with our best

1. 53

   whonunuwhoposted 11 years ago

   Why do our elected officials, seem to continually be at odds, not with our best interest at heart?
   
   Is it paranoia on my part. or does it seem that congress now represents themselves and their own greed and not the majority of he American people and just when did this occur?

   replyreport
2. 64

   thecollecktorposted 11 years ago

   Elected officials today are professionals, many reelected term after term, their goal.   To be reelected, the electorate asks each of them to represent their votes for the purpose to make things better for the people, nationally and their voters.   When they remember this, the political process get things done.    This all changes, when poitical leaderships decide to govern by the party vote.   Their goal to show the world, their party,  has the answers.   This may be driven by the President or the powerful in Congress.  Their ultimate goal is to increase their power.   When the weaker party works to keep them from getting power and be run over by their proposals, plans, governance, the only result becomes who has the best answer based on their interests rather than the compromise that has the nation's heart at interest.

   replyreport
3. 60

   WhyDoIThinkposted 11 years ago

   I think this mostly has to do with the fact that people who seem to have power can't deal with it. When a certain individual gets the power he or she always dreamed about, they start to fall back to animal instincts, like egotistical behaviour. I know exactly what you mean, and it annoys me a lot. Not a lot of people can handle power, and when the wrong people get the power, they start using it for themselves. To quote a rapper/gang member, whose name I will not state: "I want to be the first American President who is also a gang member, without anyone knowing, so I can take whatever I want, without anyone complaining."
   
   I think that might say enough!
   
   Good question!

   replyreport
4. 38

   ZIa Ahmed khanposted 11 years ago

   They are at odd with best interest of common people because they are not representative of common peoples , they are paid by different lobbies to represent their interest, paid to win elections so they are with lobbies rather than common people.

   replyreport
5. 86

   kschangposted 11 years ago

   Actually both sides *claim* to have your best interest at heart, which is *why* they are at odds.
   
   (Not that I really believe them, but that's their narrative)

   replyreport
6. 0

   Eli Mooreposted 11 years ago

   The average member of the Senate is in the top 1% of the income bracket.
   
   That means that the people who pass our laws are consistently picked out of a pool of people who are wealthy.
   
   ALSO, a recent study has shown that among the people who go to America's highly selective colleges, about 70% are from the top 25% of the income bracket!
   
   AND FINALLY, we live in a two-party dictatorship. A TWO-PARTY DICTATORSHIPPPPPPP. Yes, DICTATORSHIP. I haven't seen a third party with any power. This is absolutely out of the norm in European democracies, where newly-formed political parties are constantly rising, and on average there are five parties sharing power in the country.
   
   P.S., money and special interests have made politics a business

   replyreport
7. 59

   ReneeDC1979posted 11 years ago

   They are at odds because politics is a moneymaker, and when your life is fueled by money, that is what makes you think, act, speak, etc.  They are products of American society.  Think about it, living the American Dream has always been spouse, car, kids, and most of all a lot of money.  Once people achieve that life stops for them.

   replyreport
8. 81

   kwade tweelingposted 11 years ago

   There are some great answers already. I'd like to add that people respond to the team mentality. We always have two groups to choose from. If you can identify with enough ideals of one party or the other, the natural tendency is to "pick a team". This mentality is a dangerous one that keeps us picking a side rather than looking for truth.
   
   Truth is, the people in power in the US do not have our interests in mind. They have their own, and their sponsors (campaign contributors, lobbyists and business relations) in mind.

   replyreport
9. 60

   MrBecherposted 11 years ago

   I think it's very much like what thecollecktor describes, but I'd like to add to it.
   
   There are two things that a politician can do when in office - he can represent his people like he's supposed to, or he can take advantage of the system for his own gains. Under ideal circumstances, when a politician abuses the system, they get voted out of office. Because of (in my opinion) a lame electorate, politicians can get away with abusing office. If voters were more engaged in politics and keeping politicians in line, I think they'd be less tempted to not do their job.
   
   I will say, however, that there are certain asses a politician has to kiss to see their district get the benefits they need. You vote for my bill, I vote for yours type deal. Or, a better example, the stimulus. [Assuming you believe it was bad for America], a politician might vote in favor of it to see money come to their district. Sometimes representatives do their jobs too well and put the interests of their districts over the interests of the country. It's kind of a complex situation.

   replyreport
10. 72

    lone77starposted 11 years ago

    Just look at who their paymasters are: Corporate Party lobbyists.
    
    They no longer belong to the American voters.
    
    In fact, voting machines no longer belong to American voters. Too many electronic shenanigans.
    
    The Rockefellers and Rothschilds want America dismantled. And Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush Sr., Carter and others have done just that, one little step at a time.
    
    It's now a felony to protest in America. Sieg heil!
    
    The government can detain you indefinitely without access to an attorney, without charges, without a trial, and without a phone call. Disappeared!
    
    The Corporate Party rules. The following 2 videos of Ben Swann, WXIX on the last 2 presidential conventions show how far gone our political process has fallen. Voting and Roberts Rules of Order are dead.
    
    RNC Scripted:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2O248VaDpA
    
    DNC Scripted:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxNg3u70FnY
    
    And 9/11 was the big turning point. That was their watershed moment. That's when they got the "green light" to turn the screws on America. After all, 9/11 was an inside job. Three buildings with asymmetrical damage do NOT suffer symmetrical collapse without controlled demolition being involved.
    
    Next on their agenda: get everyone microchipped. The Rockefellers are the beast of Revelation 13. They epitomize greed and the willingness to do anything (including murder thousands) in order to get the one-world power they hunger for.
    
    But they'll lose. Just read Revelation.

    replyreport