For the first time, half of US Congress are millionaires; Democrats slightly richer than Republicans - Polidicks

[QUOTE=BrickInHead;43495349]this only has to do with the fact that the old gop has been split into the traditionals and the new guys that make up the tea party. the tea partiers are less wealthy and educated than anyone else in politics. they're dragging the gop side down[/QUOTE] The GOP is dragging itself down by alienating a LOT of people it would have captured by embracing the tea party. The GOP threw away it's conservative values so they could be more "moderate", and they're paying for it by having the conservatives leave for a new, stronger party.

I like how a lot of you actually think democrats aren't greedy.

[QUOTE=Oizen;43502507]I like how a lot of you actually think democrats aren't greedy.[/QUOTE] You mean the people that scream about people being brainwashed by Republican politicians, and aren't aware that they're brainwashed by the Democrat politicians? Both sides are shit.

The way I see it is that these people are pretty much at the peak of their careers, they're not just picked out of a hat. There needs to be incentives even for a job like this. Its the same with most career paths, as you move towards the top of the chain pay and benefits increase.

[QUOTE=Jonzky;43502653]The way I see it is that these people are pretty much at the peak of their careers, they're not just picked out of a hat. There needs to be incentives even for a job like this. Its the same with most career paths, as you move towards the top of the chain pay and benefits increase.[/QUOTE] Ok, but it's still fucked up that the only real qualification to run for federal office is to have money.

[QUOTE=Robman8908;43502724]Ok, but it's still fucked up that the only real qualification to run for federal office is to have money.[/QUOTE] True, but I think its a matter of time before someone (initially) with little funding goes viral and then ends up in office.

[QUOTE=Jonzky;43502814]True, but I think its a matter of time before someone (initially) with little funding goes viral and then ends up in office.[/QUOTE] That's happened quite a few times over here, but it never goes anywhere because the federal politicians snuff it out before anything can happen. Like that Joe the plumber guy, yeah, he was a bit crazy, but people loved him because he wasn't some rich dickhead worried about how many bank accounts he had to fill up. He just disappeared after the media completely obliterated him and nearly everyone in this fucking country ate it up because they're sheep. Much like how Obama says the word "change" and every college kid here creams their pants and thinks he's telling the truth because he's "hip" and "cool".

[QUOTE=Jonzky;43502814]True, but I think its a matter of time before someone (initially) with little funding goes viral and then ends up in office.[/QUOTE] It also used to be that a rich contributor used to be able to fund the campaign for a popular, but non-wealthy candidate. The McCain-Feingold bill that I mentioned earlier made it illegal to donate over a small, specific amount, which makes this sort of funding impossible. I honestly don't see how their bill did anything but add more corruption to the system. Now, instead of people giving money to campaigns directly for commercials, speaking engagements, etc. we have massive groups that spend the money independently. So now we can't even hold the politicians accountable for their own adds since they can just say, "Oh, I didn't actually make that and don't fully agree."

[QUOTE=Robman8908;43502865] "hip" and "cool".[/QUOTE] They should also add the words "politics" and "bullshit" to their vocabulary. But I think sheep is a good descriptive word.

In my opinion, and there may be flaws with my theory but it seems like it could work if done right, but I'm thinking a good idea would be to limit the funds a politician has. Keeping the greedy away and only allowing the people who want to really help their country to get in to federal office. Wait, never mind, that's impossible... could only be pulled off if our current government was disassembled and stripped apart by the people, setting a new base to build on... but that's impossible, too, considering the media has the majority of the people in a choke-hold. Politics and Religion have so much in common, wouldn't ya say?

[QUOTE=Eudoxia;43497214]Democrats never did anything wrong, they are all crypto-Republicans! Seriously, that's just a paranoid delusion.[/QUOTE] i never said they were crypto-republicans, they've just failed to make any strong pushes for policy in the past four years - relevant to their party platform, at least. since the GOP has taken the majority in the house, every major 'compromise' has been 'give the GOP everything they want for an inch of what we want', rather than actual compromise where both parties make sacrifices to get important things done. the media representation of political parties being staunchly partisan on both sides is not really true at all - you either have both parties passing some piece of terrible legislation, or the democratic party proposes something, the house republicans say 'no' (no matter what it is), and then the democratic party goes 'oh ok' and slinks away.

[QUOTE=joes33431;43503571]i never said they were crypto-republicans, they've just failed to make any strong pushes for policy in the past four years. since the GOP has taken the majority in the house, every major 'compromise' has been 'give the GOP everything they want for an inch of what we want', rather than actual compromise where both parties make tangible sacrifices for suitable gains.[/QUOTE] The government shutdown ended with the Republicans whining because they didn't get a damn thing. Neither side will make a compromise, because every compromise involves somebody losing some money and/or power. Congress, as a whole, is doing nothing. Both sides are equally corrupt and equally retarded.

[QUOTE=Robman8908;43503622]The government shutdown ended with the Republicans whining because they didn't get a damn thing. Neither side will make a compromise, because every compromise involves somebody losing some money and/or power. Congress, as a whole, is doing nothing. Both sides are equally corrupt and equally retarded.[/QUOTE] the government shutdown was a unique situation. the GOP found itself in a situation where it was basically being viewed as the bad guy on every level, and the democrats had no reason to give into concessions when the livelihoods of millions were being held hostage. trying to paint both parties as equal is a nice notion, but it's simply not true. equally corrupted? probably. but i don't see any democratic senators screaming idiotic left-wing rhetoric to any extreme comparable to that of the GOP's. how many democratic representatives do you see taking the same make-no-compromises attitude as the ones in the GOP? the democratic party can't get any legislation passed, and the republican party doesn't want to propose any legislation in the first place.

[QUOTE=joes33431;43503686]the government shutdown was a unique situation. the GOP found itself in a situation where it was basically being viewed as the bad guy on every level, and the democrats had no reason to give into concessions when the livelihoods of millions were being held hostage. trying to paint both parties as equal is a nice notion, but it's simply not true. equally corrupted? probably. but i don't see any democratic senators screaming idiotic left-wing rhetoric to any extreme comparable to that of the GOP's. how many democratic representatives do you see taking the same make-no-compromises attitude as the ones in the GOP? the democratic party can't get any legislation passed, and the republican party doesn't want to propose any legislation in the first place.[/QUOTE] The Democratic party has a bigger hold on the media than the GOP does. The reason for the government shutdown was because neither party could get along, and even after it, still no go. We could argue this all day and night, but when it comes down to it, both parties are literally useless money-grabbers that need put down. The two party system has been broken forever, but people can't do anything about it because we're only under the illusion that we're under control. It's not a people's nation.

[QUOTE=confinedUser;43501847]I'm not tolerating it but anyone i tell about this they chalk it off as bullshit or conspiracy theories. i live among the biggest fucking idiots.[/QUOTE] Everyone I know says its Obama and the Democrat's fault. I don't know much about politics. But maybe, just maybe, both Democrat's and Republicans are at fault. Everyone is so wrapped up in this bullshit us vs them mentality. Example: Most people get their political info from cable news networks (at least around here). Everyone thinks the news networks they watch are fair and unbiased while the others are straight up lying. Problem is that they all do it. They all feel the need to "tell the viewer what they want to hear" because it drives up ratings.

[QUOTE=Robman8908;43503821]We could argue this all day and night, but when it comes down to it, both parties are literally useless money-grabbers that need put down. The two party system has been broken forever, but people can't do anything about it because we're only under the illusion that we're under control.[/QUOTE] 1) a 3 party system wouldn't work, it just wouldn't, nor would a coalition 2) senators and congressmen are unfortunately allowed to profiteer by regulation, often committing stuff thats virtually insider trading and its never going to change unfortunately 3) campaign financing is ridiculously broke and the next step they want is to be directly able to take any money from anyone to fund their campaigns we still are in control though, but the problem is that this country is so sorely divided between interests that both sides will never resolve anything

[QUOTE=sgman91;43495263]This is what happens when you make it impossible for the non-rich to run (McCain-Fein[B]gold[/B]).[/QUOTE] heh

[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Polis[/url] I think most people here would find Mr. Polis an agreeable person. He opposed the wars, he's advocating for an open, free internet. Very strong on human rights. One of few openly gay congressman (the only gay parent) and quite obviously supports LGBT rights. He's also one of the top ten earners in congress. Ranked #7 as of 2013. He sold a start up and invested his money into real estate and other start up companies. Is he any less of a good person/congressman because he made smart decisions? Not really. Money doesn't make you evil, it's how you use it. There are issues with money in politics, yeah, but generalizing everyone in congress is dumb.

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i think the issue here is not that the average senator or congressmen is rich, but its that they usually leave the office much much much richer than before they start and its not because of the nice pension or massive salary

[QUOTE=Sableye;43504043]1) a 3 party system wouldn't work, it just wouldn't, nor would a coalition 2) senators and congressmen are unfortunately allowed to profiteer by regulation, often committing stuff thats virtually insider trading and its never going to change unfortunately 3) campaign financing is ridiculously broke and the next step they want is to be directly able to take any money from anyone to fund their campaigns we still are in control though, but the problem is that this country is so sorely divided between interests that both sides will never resolve anything[/QUOTE] we need a proportional voting system.

[QUOTE=joes33431;43504932]we need a proportional voting system.[/QUOTE] Why is that? How does making one person's vote worth more than another's solve problems with corruption?

[QUOTE=Robman8908;43502724]Ok, but it's still fucked up that the only real qualification to run for federal office is to have money.[/QUOTE] It isn't having money that is required. What is required is the willingness to support those with money.

[QUOTE=Sableye;43504043]1) a 3 party system wouldn't work, it just wouldn't, nor would a coalition 2) senators and congressmen are unfortunately allowed to profiteer by regulation, often committing stuff thats virtually insider trading and its never going to change unfortunately 3) campaign financing is ridiculously broke and the next step they want is to be directly able to take any money from anyone to fund their campaigns we still are in control though, but the problem is that this country is so sorely divided between interests that both sides will never resolve anything[/QUOTE] That and a lot of Americans don't understand nor care for how the US government actually functions.

[QUOTE=Demache;43504036]Everyone I know says its Obama and the Democrat's fault. I don't know much about politics. But maybe, just maybe, both Democrat's and Republicans are at fault. Everyone is so wrapped up in this bullshit us vs them mentality. Example: Most people get their political info from cable news networks (at least around here). Everyone thinks the news networks they watch are fair and unbiased while the others are straight up lying. Problem is that they all do it. They all feel the need to "tell the viewer what they want to hear" because it drives up ratings.[/QUOTE] Everyone blame the republicans when bush was in Office. Everyone blames the democrats when Obama was in Office. Thought Im not sure where you live, as where I live everyone constantly tells me about how the Republicans are bad and evil, can't even begin to tell me why they think this though. The Democrat party has a lot of sheep who don't realize they're being screwed just as hard by them as they would be a Republican. Thats about as politically aware as most people are. Its frightening.

Half are millionaires? Golly gosh they must all legitimately work really really hard for their country and surely must be incorruptible pinnacles of patriotic selflessness.

[QUOTE=Oizen;43508147]Everyone blame the republicans when bush was in Office. Everyone blames the democrats when Obama was in Office. Thought Im not sure where you live, as where I live everyone constantly tells me about how the Republicans are bad and evil, can't even begin to tell me why they think this though. The Democrat party has a lot of sheep who don't realize they're being screwed just as hard by them as they would be a Republican. Thats about as politically aware as most people are. Its frightening.[/QUOTE] Well financial policies aside the republicans have a lot of stupid ideas on social policy.

[QUOTE=Falubii;43511306]Well financial policies aside the republicans have a lot of stupid ideas on social policy.[/QUOTE] Federal government shouldn't be passing legislation on social policy. That should be left up to the individual states due to the extremely wide variety of differing opinions from state to state....

[QUOTE=Silence I Kill You;43511424]Federal government shouldn't be passing legislation on social policy. That should be left up to the individual states due to the extremely wide variety of differing opinions from state to state....[/QUOTE] Except that's a horrible strategy that led to the Civil Rights marches in states that refused to listen to Federal authority.

[QUOTE=Swilly;43511579]Except that's a horrible strategy that led to the Civil Rights marches in states that refused to listen to Federal authority.[/QUOTE] Except human/civil rights aren't social issues, but nice try.