Congress Is Acting Like Two Rival Gangs On Health Care.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Frustrated and tired. That is probably the single best way to describe things when it comes to the American people and how they feel about politics. Its the only sentiment that possibly fits in this day and age of constant bickering and partisan politics. In a time when it matters not about what is necessarily right by the American people, but what is right by the political party you are affiliated with.

When you look at the United States Congress as a whole, they appear to be just two large gangs fighting a battle of words. Why describe them as gangs you might ask? Well, think about it. In a street gang, the only way you can get in is by doing something that gets you accepted by the gang you are trying to join. In the political sense, one must adhere to the party platform/ideas of the party leaders to be accepted into the party. If you dare to try and break away from a gang, theyll either take your life or beat you within an inch of it. In the political arena this works the same way. If you refuse to vote with your party in every way, you are treated as an outcast and then killed off politically by the party to find someone more worthy to fill your spot. There will campaigns run against you by not jus the opposing party, but your own party as well. That doesnt sound much like a group of legislators looking out for the best interests of the American people at all That just looks like a group of thugs looking out for themselves.

The American people have seen more and more political fighting today than ever. Theyve seen two rival gangs fighting each other tooth and nail and refusing to give in and give any type of compromise. Theres outright refusal of both parties to listen to the American people when their party has the most power, and then they pretend to care about the people when their party doesnt have that much power. It seems like a game to them where theyre all trying to score the most points in the neighborhood where they can get the common people to rat out the other gang.

The current health care debate has truly shown the colors of both parties. There hasnt been one bit of an honest debate on this since day one. It has been both parties at each others throats saying, its our way or the highway. Not only that, but even to get their own members on board the Democrats have had to work special backroom deals and promise better funding to certain areas, or extra perks for the hometown of particular members who might not vote for it otherwise. The fact that not even the party as a whole cannot agree on this health care bill is telling in itself that all they care about it making a name for them selves. In a sense, a poor attempt at giving them some street cred with the American people. Is this seriously what we have come down to as a society and our political leaders? They worry more about street cred than what the American people themselves might actually want or what the other opposing party might have ideas on?

You cant just blame the Democrats for this one alone. The Republicans are just as bad. It has never been about what the right thing to do it to fix the current health care system. Since day one it has been about the opposing party pushing socialism, or the opposing party doing a power grab. Not once has it been a reality check on what this nation can actually afford or whats really more important right now to the American people. It surely isnt health care if either party would pay attention to the polls they seem to base their decisions upon. The American people are more worried about jobs, more worried about deficit spending, more worried about the economy. Health care sits down a few spaces on the list of whats really important to the American people, yet here our congress is, debating it more than anything else and doing absolutely nothing to address the major issues facing this nation today. Just like a gang that bullies the neighborhood to strike fear into them, our congress is bullying the American people into accepting this health care reform whether they like it or not.

So what can the American people do to fight this gang in Washing ton? What can the American people do to stop this constant bickering and encourage a real debate on the issues? The honest truth at this point is probably nothing, but that doesnt mean we should give up as a society. The best thing to do is tie up congressional phone lines, fill mail boxes, e-mail boxes, etc. until Democrats and Republicans alike realize that the American people dont want this bill. They want an honest debate. They want a health care bill that does right by them by addressing the issues such as cost, a more fair insurance market, easier transferability of health care between jobs, more one on one with their doctor and less having to worry about a bureaucracy from government or private insurers.

The only way truly get rid of a gang is for the neighborhood to fight back and to push the gang out of it. The American people have a chance to do this come November and the only way to flush the gang out and to try and fix the problem is to vote every last incumbent out of office that refuses to actually debate the issues and would rather live for his or her gang rather than the American people. Will American wake up this November and dare to do such a thing? Probably not, but only time will tell.

Its time that the two gangs in Washington meet their nemesis in the American people and time we the people stand up for what we believe in when it comes to politics and what we expect from our political leaders. We dont want bickering, we dont want partisan politics, and we dont want closed door plotting on the next gang war. We want debate and we want whats right by everyone for everyone, and not just whats good for the gangs. Its time to take back the neighborhood and its a fight the American people can win, if theyre willing.

http://www.stompmud.com

Edited March 16, 2010 by Paul and Vanessa

[Ali G. 37]

Folks on the right seem to assume that none else wants health care reform. The people have spoken and voted in a Democrat. That is how a democracy works.

Democracy does not mean you get your way 24/7.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Folks on the right seem to assume that none else wants health care reform. The people have spoken and voted in a Democrat. That is how a democracy works.

Democracy does not mean you get your way 24/7.

That's a pretty damn ignorant thing to say.

Just because a certain party is voted in, doesn't necessarily mean the people want the agenda that party is pushing.

No one is saying people don't want health care reform. It's the type of reform that's important though. What's going on now is what the people don't want and does nothing to actually fix the problems we have here today.

All you see is "we want this" democrats and "we want this" republicans... There has been no real debate/talking whatsoever. Well, unless you count Obama making sure his Democrats fall in line by 'encouraging' them to vote his way...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The current health care debate has truly shown the colors of both parties. There hasn’t been one bit of an honest debate on this since day one. It has been both parties at each other’s throats saying, ‘it’s our way or the highway.’

That's not an accurate reflection of what happened. Not at all accurate. Any honest debate ended the day the GOP declared their goal on health care reform: To make it Obama's Waterloo. It was clear from that day, that the GOP was not interested in having any meaningful debate on the issue but was interested solely in inflicting political damage on the President.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

That's not an accurate reflection of what happened. Not at all accurate. Any honest debate ended the day the GOP declared their goal on health care reform: To make it Obama's Waterloo. It was clear from that day, that the GOP was not interested in having any meaningful debate on the issue but was interested solely in inflicting political damage on the President.

A few tried to put it as such and the media made it look like everyone.

The problem is, if you ever watch CSPAN for instance, if when Republicans are out bringing ideas to the table, Democrats aren't in the room. When Democrats are talking, Republicans aren't in the room... There's no solid debate ever on the issues and when they are in the same room, everyone is doing their own thing. They're either talking on the phone, paying attention to something else, and just not seeming to give a damn what the other party is saying.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

A few tried to put it as such and the media made it look like everyone.

The problem is, if you ever watch CSPAN for instance, if when Republicans are out bringing ideas to the table, Democrats aren't in the room. When Democrats are talking, Republicans aren't in the room... There's no solid debate ever on the issues and when they are in the same room, everyone is doing their own thing. They're either talking on the phone, paying attention to something else, and just not seeming to give a damn what the other party is saying.

The days where an actual debate takes place in public - i.e. the chambers of Congress - are long gone. That's an unfortunate development for sure.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's a funny system for sure. I can't get to grips with it. I presume that it is partly because of the unwieldy nature of having so many members representing such huge numbers of people but I think it's partly because the system is just old fashioned and could do with an overhaul.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

It's a funny system for sure. I can't get to grips with it. I presume that it is partly because of the unwieldy nature of having so many members representing such huge numbers of people but I think it's partly because the system is just old fashioned and could do with an overhaul.

honestly, if we reverted the system back to it's 'constitutional' ways, then it'd work just fine. Now granted, the "house" version would have to stay modified as we'd have way too many representatives. I mean the change back to being an actual representative republic that's not just about parties.

House = elected by the people

Senate = Chosen by the state legislatures

President = Chosen by the Electoral college

If we went back to that and a true 'representative' form instead of this majority rule BS... it'd be a lot better and compromise would HAVE TO be made to get anything done.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

doh. appears youtube tags are broken..

oh well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eSBg0nb9kw

Edited March 17, 2010 by Paul and Vanessa

[Ali G. 37]

That's a pretty damn ignorant thing to say.

Just because a certain party is voted in, doesn't necessarily mean the people want the agenda that party is pushing.

No one is saying people don't want health care reform. It's the type of reform that's important though. What's going on now is what the people don't want and does nothing to actually fix the problems we have here today.

Much like many things, you guys need an education on democracy. Why even bother having elections then if the party in office must sit there and debate with those not elected by the people?

I have been here for over four years now and saw first hand exactly how much 'reform' Republicans proposed on health care: Zero. The problem cannot be fixed unless the middle man is take out of the game, it's as simple as that. Under the system I was used to, the government paid the doctor directly. win/win for a;ll. They also had public hospitals which competed with the private hospitals and brought the cost down. Not to mention, tendered out for medication and was able to buy it at the lowest price. In other words, a government establish by the people, who works for the people. It would be a cold day in hell before they leave their health care up to the private sector alone.

[Ali G. 37]

A few tried to put it as such and the media made it look like everyone.

The problem is, if you ever watch CSPAN for instance, if when Republicans are out bringing ideas to the table, Democrats aren't in the room. When Democrats are talking, Republicans aren't in the room... There's no solid debate ever on the issues and when they are in the same room, everyone is doing their own thing. They're either talking on the phone, paying attention to something else, and just not seeming to give a damn what the other party is saying.

Hence why the parliamentary system is so much better. You have a shadow minister as well as a shadow leader who is present to "debate". Whereas, as you pointed out, half of congress is absent at such sessions here.

[Ali G. 37]

honestly, if we reverted the system back to it's 'constitutional' ways, then it'd work just fine. Now granted, the "house" version would have to stay modified as we'd have way too many representatives. I mean the change back to being an actual representative republic that's not just about parties.

House = elected by the people

Senate = Chosen by the state legislatures

President = Chosen by the Electoral college

If we went back to that and a true 'representative' form instead of this majority rule BS... it'd be a lot better and compromise would HAVE TO be made to get anything done.

Here we go. You're not a fan of Alex Jones now are you?

Worked fine hey.. So why is it apart from second and third world countries, pretty much no body else uses this fine system?