Time to Reform Congress?

1. 61

   CivilistMikeposted 11 years ago

   How many problems which we post about in the forums are not problems, but symptoms of a US Congress that does not work for the citizens of the US?  The approval rating for Congress has been in the toilet for the last 2 years. (See http://www.gallup.com/poll/158372/congr … tions.aspx ) To be fair, the decline in approval started much earlier than the graph shows.
   
   Different people have different reasons for their disgust  but generally, citizens are aware that  the vast majority of our elected representatives in Washington - regardless of party affiliation - are either working for themselves or working for special interests or a little of both.
   
   'Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.'  Mark Twain
   
   This axiom seems to sum up the problem of reforming Congress since the corruption is institutional, generally legal and always serves the interests of the incumbent. Only Congress can reform the rules that regulate Congress. So a fix seems as far out of reach as weather control.
   
   Except there is a group addressing the issue - they have specific reforms and a plan to overcome the inherent resistance of Congress. Rather than run afoul of the moderators by posing a link or promoting my hub, may I mention the name of the group - 'The Civilist Papers' - or just google 'Civilism' for more info.
   
   When we have a Congress who answers entirely and exclusively to the American PEOPLE, instead of special interests (of either political flavor) - we will have good (not perfect) government instead of the gridlock and partisan games that drive the dysfunctional circus called the US Congress.

   replyreport
2. 60

   logic,commonsenseposted 11 years ago

   It is well past time to fix Congress!
   Term limits to start with, ban them from becoming a lobbyist until they have been out of office for 5 years, etc., etc.

   replyreport
   1. 61

      CivilistMikeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The authors of the Constitution had a plan for term limits for ineffective reps. The plan is called an election. Would you ban a doctor from being a surgeon after he has been doing surgery for 5 years on the basis a new doctor has more recent training? Experience has to count for something.
      
      But you are right about prohibiting a Congresscritter from becoming a lobbyist. That's the fifth of five principles and the ban would be based on the non-compete clause which is in the employment contract for many  technical professionals and executives - for the same reason.
      
      There are four other Civilist principles - and four new 'rules' that will make Congress a truly representative body.

      replyreport