When the Public Looks at Congress, What It Sees Is Bickering, Poll Says

Term Limits is NOT ALL that's needed. Congress is FOR SALE! Campaign Finance reform, restricting ANY Lobbyist, Corporate and PAC $$ donations to say nothing of an INDEPENDENT (NO poiticians allowed!!)Ethics Committee

When I look at Congress all I see is that everything seemed to collapse right when they took control. I think maybe they escalated it just to blame it on GWB and the republicans- kind of like goding him into a war then crying foul. this Congress is living proof that we have been the victim of a failed two party system for decades where absolutely nothing gets done only what they want and need tp preserve themselves while they laugh at us all the way to the bank.

The bickering is largely window dressing, as both sides of the aisle have long profited by peddling their influence to the highest bidders, dipping to the Treasury to line the pockets of lobbyists and political allies at the disadvantage of the citizens who sent them there. The current Congress is the worst one yet. That may change just a bit soon.

I don't think "bickering" is the correct way to describe the fairly obvious polarization of the major political parties, our Congressmen and our Senators. At the federal level there are some fairly clear ideological differences with regard to the role of the central government in a republic, the role of the member states, the extent to which government should act "to promote the general welfare" and the extent to which government should act to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals - and these differences have been subject to debate since the inception of our nation. Each of our major political parties have moved more toward their respective ends of the political spectrum, and, especially in the case of the Republicans, have become less willing to work with the other party to develop legislation. Personally I find the tactics of the Republicans to be distasteful, but I also think that some of the more progressive Democratic agenda items are not going to take us where I'd like to go...

The easiest solution is term limits on the Congress and Senate. Two terms for each and then they are out. I think if it was me I would also place term limits on the Supreme Court. Eighteen years then send them packing. Set it up so they would not all term out at the same time. Nine Judges eighteen years one replaced every two years.

Dems. control both houses and the potus. They should have been able to pass whatever they wanted. They had to pay off people in thier own party to pass anything. Reps. could not stop anything if dems. themself believed in the bills. But the bickering was in the dems vs dems. But they blamed it on the reps. the party that controled nothing. They could not pass tax bill(dems did not submit one) because of reps. Did not pass a budget(did not submit one) because of rep. Everything was reps. fault that controled nothing.

What is the difference between "bickering" and political discussion? There are at least two different visions for America represented in Congress, and to expect all sides to agree to follow the course of the other side is ignorant. At this time, Democrats hold a majority they feel entitles them to 100% agreement. The sad part is when in the minority, they have the same opinion. Republicans have given up conceding their values (I hope). If GW Bush taught us one thing, it is you can't take ideas from both sides without bankrupting this country.

The Supreme Court descision to let corporations have an even bigger influence in the election process is a tragedy. Not that didn't before, but it will be even more disgusting. Who do you think that congress actually works for us, wake up. The ignorance of the American voter is what they use to get their way. They stand in front of you and tell them BS and the moron voter takes it as fact, when most is lies to support K street. And how do they do it is because the joke that is the media in this country reports it as so.

Obama ran on being a uniter and saying he would be bipartisan as president,then when he wins the GOP are locked out of all meetings dems held on health care with dems and Obama asking for no imput from GOP. It hasn't been just that on health,it's been like they on just about everything. How GOP can be given a low approval number can't be based on anything since GOP has no say on anything. This is a dem driven ship that is heading fast for the bottom of the sea taking americans with it.

The Senate for a long time has been known as "the place where legislation goes to die". If a Senator votes to not allow legislation out of a committee, they're not required to tell you who. If you want to kill a bill just plant a "poison pill", an amendment that another Senator will vote against, and let him vote against it. You could require the other side to achieve a super majority,61 votes, or you'll filibuster. Under new rules you're not actually required to stand before the senate and talk nonstop till they give up, just declare a filibuster and you can all go home. There are many bills being filibustered right now. Why would you want to resolve a bill when you can go on to another one and filibuster it. There are currently 160 appointees to federal agencies, and 40 federal judges sitting in limbo, some for a year and a half, all because they might make rules or decisions that aren't aligned with somebodys political philosophy. Or in the case of one powerful Republican just hold up nominations because Obama took away your earmark for a military no bid contract and put it up for bids. The latest budget contains over5,000 earmarks, 2,000 are for two Republican senators, do you really believe the folks back home will dump them? Do you really think that anyone you send to Washington will not fall into line at the trough? Letting you vent on sights like this and shuffle politicians through Washington it diverts your attention from the real problem and any real solution. Just remember "simplicity is the enemy of the regulated" that is why you never see any simply written bills.