Lobbying was so pernicious more than a century ago that it prompted a nine part series in Cosmopolitan entitled "Treason of the Senate". Today it is a $3.5 billion a year bribery/extortion racket that owns and operates Washington D.C. Congress is perfectly content with it and as much as I would like to see it end, I don't think it will do anything but worsen until it destroys America. RIP Uncle Sam.
Of course they are content, those bribes are get them reelected. Paradox of the century: 10% congressional approval rating, 90% incumbent reelection rate. The system will either cause a revolution or collapse on itself. Either way people will get to start over.
It's close enough for all practical purposes but for the purist, it was a 9% approval rating and an 85% incumbent reelection. Your evaluation is quite precise, though ;).
Ron Paul is an extraordinary man. Not only did he win the election you mention despite an unfavorable gerrymander but he mounted a credible presidential campaign and served his entire term in the House "without even talking to lobbyists," to paraphrase him. He was the exception to nearly every rule in Washington, and a paragon of integrity and virtue to which every legislator should aspire. He will be sorely missed in the coming years.
population is getting dumber as technology improves
okay mr. holier than thou what have you done to make a change? Have called your senators office told them they are bunch of authoritarians? Bullhorned? Protested? Petitioned? Stood on the street corner presenting your views to passer-by? Done anything besides post about your apparent superiority on reddit?
It's just so frustrating that people think it is making a difference when they go out and
I get frustrated when politically inactive people whine on the internet, and take the "well you useless people are stupid you can't change anything stop trying" stand. It's useless, self-defeating, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Have a downvote.
C'mon, you've gotta admit that the common citizen is at least partially responsible for the problems that face our society. People actually vote for a lot of this garbage. And they continue to vote for the people who oppress them and others. Majority interests are just as suspect as special interests.
No Smoking
No Guns
Taxpayer Funded Genocide/Apartheid in Israel
More CCTV
More Prisons
More Law Enforcement
More Laws (now enforceable)
More Expensive Healthcare
I'm of the belief that healthcare had a lot of positive things to it. BUT you think about it and it's basically making it illegal to not give money to insurance companies.
About the only thing I'll differ with you here is Obama's spying policy. They didn't say fuck warrants. In a joint effort with republicans, they made all the illegal stuff happening, legal. Otherwise, your dystopic view is spot on.
I'd make the argument that just as many, if not more of our problems are caused by democracy. Stupid people voting for stupid things they should have no say in whatsoever. It becomes more obvious when our "representatives" act against the will of the majority they claim to represent, but even when a majority imposes it's will on a minority, it's still wrong. I don't think any person or group of people has the right to rule over humanity, whether it be an all powerful king or the angry mob called democracy. Even if 95% of people voted that I'm not allowed jerk off, I'm still going to do it. Fuck em.
Perfectly true, but people don't want to hear it. They've been trained not to listen. They like to think they are free, and that they make their own informed decisions. Which is enough to make a person laugh hysterically, or weep tears of blood.
About the only thing I'll differ with you here is Obama's spying policy. They didn't say fuck warrants. In a joint effort with republicans, they made all the illegal stuff happening, legal. Otherwise, your dystopic view is spot on.
31 comments
11 Chipzzz 2013-02-01
Lobbying was so pernicious more than a century ago that it prompted a nine part series in Cosmopolitan entitled "Treason of the Senate". Today it is a $3.5 billion a year bribery/extortion racket that owns and operates Washington D.C. Congress is perfectly content with it and as much as I would like to see it end, I don't think it will do anything but worsen until it destroys America. RIP Uncle Sam.
13 jf_ftw 2013-02-01
Of course they are content, those bribes are get them reelected. Paradox of the century: 10% congressional approval rating, 90% incumbent reelection rate. The system will either cause a revolution or collapse on itself. Either way people will get to start over.
5 Chipzzz 2013-02-01
Curious, isn't it?
2 urabusxrw 2013-02-01
Wow is this a real stat? lol we're so fucked.
4 Chipzzz 2013-02-01
It's close enough for all practical purposes but for the purist, it was a 9% approval rating and an 85% incumbent reelection. Your evaluation is quite precise, though ;).
1 ezeepeezee 2013-02-01
If you have a minute would you mind typing up a short (or not) summary of why this is?
5 jakenichols 2013-02-01
"It's everyone else's senators and reps that are the problem, our guy is one of the only good ones"
They custom make districts for people. George HW Bush got elected to a Rep seat via redistricting.
1 ezeepeezee 2013-02-01
Ah, very good, thanks! I intend to investigate further, and now I know where to start, so kudos.
6 jakenichols 2013-02-01
Dennis Kucinich, was redistricted OUT of the house, they attempted to do it to Ron Paul as well, but he won again even with the redistricting.
2 ezeepeezee 2013-02-01
So... maybe it does matter what we want?
1 Chipzzz 2013-02-01
Well... it matters to us, anyway ;).
1 Chipzzz 2013-02-01
Ron Paul is an extraordinary man. Not only did he win the election you mention despite an unfavorable gerrymander but he mounted a credible presidential campaign and served his entire term in the House "without even talking to lobbyists," to paraphrase him. He was the exception to nearly every rule in Washington, and a paragon of integrity and virtue to which every legislator should aspire. He will be sorely missed in the coming years.
1 urabusxrw 2013-02-01
It will cause the same status quo it's been causing for years. Don't think it's going to change.
10 [deleted] 2013-02-01
[deleted]
5 urabusxrw 2013-02-01
-1 arealitychecker 2013-02-01
okay mr. holier than thou what have you done to make a change? Have called your senators office told them they are bunch of authoritarians? Bullhorned? Protested? Petitioned? Stood on the street corner presenting your views to passer-by? Done anything besides post about your apparent superiority on reddit?
I get frustrated when politically inactive people whine on the internet, and take the "well you useless people are stupid you can't change anything stop trying" stand. It's useless, self-defeating, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Have a downvote.
2 riotingchimps 2013-02-01
oil, finance, pharmaceuticals
-2 highdra 2013-02-01
C'mon, you've gotta admit that the common citizen is at least partially responsible for the problems that face our society. People actually vote for a lot of this garbage. And they continue to vote for the people who oppress them and others. Majority interests are just as suspect as special interests.
3 HarmReductionSauce 2013-02-01
Voting is just a suggestion box for slaves.
-S. Molyneux
1 highdra 2013-02-01
I'd say it's a suggestion box for tyrants. It allows everybody to take part in the subjugation of their fellow man.
10 juice_of_the_mango 2013-02-01
No Smoking
No Guns
Taxpayer Funded Genocide/Apartheid in Israel
More CCTV
More Prisons
More Law Enforcement
More Laws (now enforceable)
More Expensive Healthcare
6 urabusxrw 2013-02-01
I'm of the belief that healthcare had a lot of positive things to it. BUT you think about it and it's basically making it illegal to not give money to insurance companies.
3 [deleted] 2013-02-01
Hey, what did mussolini say about when states merge with corporations again?
3 jakenichols 2013-02-01
That it was a good thing.
4 ShawnGH 2013-02-01
Power is the only truth for those who hide their machinations behind the auspices of the state.
And no this has not changed in the last 30 years.
What had changed is that the internet allows people to ignore the fascist media/gatekeepers and talk about it.
Both parties are bought by the same bunch of criminals.
And when I point this out in this toilet I get mass down voted.
Nothing happens in politics that the facsisti don't want.
Bush solution = put the banksters in his cabinet and bail them out.
Obama solution = put more banksters in his cabinet and give them more.
Bushs oil policy = subsidies are great
Obamas oil policy = subsidies are great
Bush spying on the populace = fuck warrants
Obamas spying on the populace = fuck warrants
Bushs department of fatherland security = start it
Obamas department of fatherland security = expand it
Bushs internet = 3rd world internet is fine
obamas internet =bandwidth caps are even better
bushs wars = start them
obama wars = privatize and expand them
bushs prisons = privatize them so that the police state cannot be dismantled.
obamas prisons = build more
bushs education fuck education
obama education = fuck education
bushs social security = almost no cost of living increases,and cut where possible
obama social security = one small increase during selection year, and cut where possible(500 billion due to obamacare)
obamas health care policy = romneys health care policy
But but but.... gay marriage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flag burning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The president was born in CANADA!!!!!!
See the forest through the trees.
There is no difference between the parties.
Status quo maintained.
Mission accomplished.
2 urabusxrw 2013-02-01
About the only thing I'll differ with you here is Obama's spying policy. They didn't say fuck warrants. In a joint effort with republicans, they made all the illegal stuff happening, legal. Otherwise, your dystopic view is spot on.
1 highdra 2013-02-01
I'd make the argument that just as many, if not more of our problems are caused by democracy. Stupid people voting for stupid things they should have no say in whatsoever. It becomes more obvious when our "representatives" act against the will of the majority they claim to represent, but even when a majority imposes it's will on a minority, it's still wrong. I don't think any person or group of people has the right to rule over humanity, whether it be an all powerful king or the angry mob called democracy. Even if 95% of people voted that I'm not allowed jerk off, I'm still going to do it. Fuck em.
1 bgovern 2013-02-01
Americans want cold beer, warm pussy, and a place to take a shit that got a door on it....
You don't want the dog lookin' at you.
1 Squackula 2013-02-01
Americans want whatever they're told to want.
0 [deleted] 2013-02-01
Americans overwhelmingly want whatever they're told to want.
Americans overwhelmingly want whatever will destroy their liberties.
Americans overwhelmingly want the world to burn if it guarantees their safety.
1 tttt0tttt 2013-02-01
Perfectly true, but people don't want to hear it. They've been trained not to listen. They like to think they are free, and that they make their own informed decisions. Which is enough to make a person laugh hysterically, or weep tears of blood.
1 [deleted] 2013-02-01
The American people have been trained to lose their vigilance and their virtue. Without either of those, there's little hope for freedom.
2 urabusxrw 2013-02-01
About the only thing I'll differ with you here is Obama's spying policy. They didn't say fuck warrants. In a joint effort with republicans, they made all the illegal stuff happening, legal. Otherwise, your dystopic view is spot on.
1 ezeepeezee 2013-02-01
Ah, very good, thanks! I intend to investigate further, and now I know where to start, so kudos.