Can we vote the power back to the People?

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   phionposted 11 years ago

   Can we vote the power back to the People?
   
   Is your life governed by you, or your government? Do you vote for the passage of new/higher taxes? How is it that a government elected by the majority can't work together to address the issues of the day?  What did the founders of this nation fight king George for? There is no need in another civil war! The main thing that divides us is the politicians that say they will help us unite. Have we got to the point that we look passed the truth, and don’t even care about it anymore? What do you do to learn about who you vote for? What does Liberty mean to you?
   
   

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2. 82

   Attikosposted 11 years ago

   That's way too many questions for a sound-bite format like this one.

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      phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Your right, but I believe they are all connected to the main question, that could be a yes or no.

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3. 63

   TeaPartyCrasherposted 11 years ago

   Yes, for now.
   
   In 10-15 years maybe not.

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4. 60

   TheGryphonposted 11 years ago

   Far too many questions.  First, one asks whether their life is governed by the government.  I think that as a political scientist.  I would say yes, in that YOU are the government.  Whatever you think, it is by your consent that the government works given either directly or through participation.  Instead of complaining about government, what have you done to make it better?  How informed are you?  And remember what your parents taught you, just because you don't get everything you want, it does not mean that there is something wrong.
   
   Why does a government elected by a "Majority" not work together?  As one who has studied the US system, I can say its because "they are not suppose to." The system set up in 1787 was designed to ensure that a president would not become a tyrant and that no other branch would dominate the other.  However, it also is a system of blame avoidance.  The president can blame congress for not passing items on time, rightly so no matter what party one belongs to.  Congress has never finished its budget requirements on time for almost 30 years.  There are a few exceptions. Congress holds the purse strings.  Hence, the president cannot spend a dime without their approval.  While this system performs a good check on both branches, I do think that the last 30 years illustrates that it is a test that sometimes has horrible consequences.  Neither side accepts blame and we are all tired of the pointing of fingers.  So what should we do?  I do think we need to move to responsible government where the president and congress are more accountable.  However, as I suggest this there will be those who think that this is just awful.  I say the only cure for our ills is government reform by the people. 
   
   There one thing we must remember is that first there are certain things that are not subject to a vote as Justice Jackson so poignantly put it "The very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts. One's right to life, liberty, and property, to free speech, a free press, freedom of worship and assembly, and other fundamental rights may not be submitted to vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections."  (See West Virginia State Bord of Ed. vs. Barnett)(310 US 624).

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      phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Really, the teacher tone? Don’t mistake my rant of questions as those of a clueless whelp. You’ve studied government? How is working together not one of the prime jobs of those that we elect to represent us? I’m not talking checks and balances here!

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      TheGryphonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am sorry Phion you asked a good question, and I attempted to answer it.  I agree working together is a good idea.  However, their is no incentive for people to work together.  I am limited by space, but I can give you a reason why?

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   handymanbillposted 11 years ago

   The people have never really lost the power. The big problem is that the elected  are no listening to the people. The main problem is also that they have too much time on there hands,sitting around trying to think of laws to make. To many Laws.

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      TheGryphonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very true and yet people still keep electing representatives that do not do a good job

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6. 62

   SportsBetterposted 11 years ago

   The way to bring power to the people, is to limit the power of the government.  For people who believe that corporations run our government, it is true, but they don't understand that it is government that helps them achieve that.
   
   Government has too much power and they use it to auction off to corporations.  Government and corporations work together to grow and gain power.
   
   Take government power away and corporations would have to compete and provide the average person with quality products at low cost.  There would be more jobs available because people would be able to save and more companies would be created.
   
   Government caused these problems and we need to understand that.
   
   This what our founders wanted.

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      TheGryphonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I can agree up to a point.  But why you describe is exactly what government was like in the late 19th century America were corporations actually did run America.  You know the age of the robber barons.  Do you really want ot go back to that? I don't

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      SportsBetterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Corporations run America today, they write regulations to benefit themselves and eliminate their competition.  The government just passes the regulations.

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      TheGryphonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, I agree,  but I would not call them regulations because corporations don't like that what the federal government does is give them contracts, eliminate regulation, and give exceptions to regulations and great tax breaks,  I agree end these

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      SportsBetterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Regulations almost always do the opposite as intended.  Corporations do like regulations because it eliminates their competition.  Corporations can afford paying fees or fines associated with regulations but their smaller competitors can't.

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   Elijahokelleyposted 11 years ago

   To answer the title question, I don't believe so. It seems that regardless of who we vote for many of the same trends continue.

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