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To all in the US …What is the most important duty of our Federal Government?


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To all in the US …What is the most important duty of ... - 2/25/2010 8:34:20 PM   
kdsub


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Status: offline 		Forget liberal or conservative…forget all the talking points…forget even the eloquent words of our forefathers...forget all but what you think is the single most important duty of our elected representatives.

I believe the most important duty is to govern by and follow the will of the majority while protecting the rights of the minority through the Constitution.

I believe our government today is going wrong by following the will of the party. This to me explains why the electorate is constantly changing from party to party. They are trying to find representatives that care more about their wishes then political party platforms.

As an example…if representatives followed their continuants whishes and needs there would be many Democrats voting against healthcare reform…but there would also be many Republicans voting for it. This diversity in thought of the voters is not being reflected in the politicians they elect.

True leadership would be to vote your beliefs even if they do not match the party line. Personally I hope a third party forms to challenge the established even if it is named the Tea Party. At least it would force some elected officials to compromise.

What do you think is the single most important duty of your elected representatives?

Butch



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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 8:35:45 PM   
Smutmonger


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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 8:42:01 PM   
AnimusRex


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Status: offline 		Actually, I agree,that they should be following their constituent's wishes.

But only to a point- we don't have direct democracy- we don't vote on literally every bill that comes up. We elect people to do that for us, and trust them to do what is in our best interest, overall.
Which sounds rather patronizing, but it has to be this way. Oftentimes bills have complexity that the public literally just doesn't grasp, and the elected officials do.
If they were simply to "follow our wishes", then someone could argue that we don't need Congress, we should just have opinion polling, and whichever bill gets the highest polling percentage, is passed.

We need human representatives, who exercise wisdom and discernment in how they vote.

I don't know that it is party that is messing with the process, so much as lobbyists- I read today that there are 8 healthcare lobbyists for ever Congressman and Senator. With inflluence and pressure like that, the people's wishes get smothered pretty effectively, party or no party.

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 8:44:31 PM   
tazzygirl


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the amount of pork and stupidity that gets attached to bills these days is astounding!

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 8:46:53 PM   
juliaoceania


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Status: offline 		You never read the Federalist Papers, did you?

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 9:06:12 PM   
kdsub


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quote:

ORIGINAL: AnimusRex

Actually, I agree,that they should be following their constituent's wishes.

But only to a point- we don't have direct democracy- we don't vote on literally every bill that comes up. We elect people to do that for us, and trust them to do what is in our best interest, overall.
Which sounds rather patronizing, but it has to be this way. Oftentimes bills have complexity that the public literally just doesn't grasp, and the elected officials do.
If they were simply to "follow our wishes", then someone could argue that we don't need Congress, we should just have opinion polling, and whichever bill gets the highest polling percentage, is passed.

We need human representatives, who exercise wisdom and discernment in how they vote.

I don't know that it is party that is messing with the process, so much as lobbyists- I read today that there are 8 healthcare lobbyists for ever Congressman and Senator. With inflluence and pressure like that, the people's wishes get smothered pretty effectively, party or no party.


I also agree with you to a point...I've always said that all politicians should make it known to their electorate whether they intend to follow their conscious or strictly represent the majority wishes of the voters… there is a difference.

Knowing the wishes of your electorate is not hard in this day and age. I receive many fliers requesting my opinion as well as many phone call polls.

It is also their duty through communication to explain the bills they will be voting on to the voters so they can gauge their opinion. I don’t believe that any useful legislation is too complicated for the average citizen to understand.

Butch


_____________________________

Mark Twain:

I don't see any use in having a uniform and arbitrary way of spelling words. We might as well make all clothes alike and cook all dishes alike. Sameness is tiresome; variety is pleasing

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 9:09:14 PM   
wittynamehere


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Status: offline 		OP: The government is to do whatever we tell them to do. The citizens are the dominant in this relationship, and the government is our submissive.

Unfortunately, what we have going on right now is a nation-wide case of topping from the bottom. :(


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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 9:10:44 PM   
kdsub


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Status: offline 		And you did not read my original post or that question would not have been asked.

What do YOU believe is the single most important duty of government?


Butch


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Mark Twain:

I don't see any use in having a uniform and arbitrary way of spelling words. We might as well make all clothes alike and cook all dishes alike. Sameness is tiresome; variety is pleasing

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 9:12:14 PM   
LadyAngelika


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quote:

What do you think is the single most important duty of your elected representatives?


Keeping everyone healthy. Which means providing health care and accessible education and...

oooops... wrong country ;-)

- LA


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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 9:29:03 PM   
juliaoceania


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quote:

As an example…if representatives followed their continuants whishes and needs there would be many Democrats voting against healthcare reform…but there would also be many Republicans voting for it. This diversity in thought of the voters is not being reflected in the politicians they elect.


I will refer you to Federalist Paper 10 and the discussion of factionalism to understand what the framers (James Madison in this case) had in mind when it came to our political system


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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 9:32:58 PM   
Arpig


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quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyAngelika

quote:

What do you think is the single most important duty of your elected representatives?


Keeping everyone healthy. Which means providing health care and accessible education and...

oooops... wrong country ;-)

- LA

Yup, I was right...Canadian girls ROCK!


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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 9:36:54 PM   
kdsub


Posts: 12180
Joined: 8/16/2007
Status: offline 		lol...You don't seem to understand …I don't care what the Federalist papers say... I want to know what you think and say. This is the point of the thread.

Not to go over what has been said in the past but what you feel in your heart is important. If it agrees what others have said in the past then so be it but let it come from you not a reference.

Butch


_____________________________

Mark Twain:

I don't see any use in having a uniform and arbitrary way of spelling words. We might as well make all clothes alike and cook all dishes alike. Sameness is tiresome; variety is pleasing

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 9:47:58 PM   
lazarus1983


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Status: offline 		To neither help, nor hinder the people.

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 10:00:26 PM   
LadyAngelika


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Arpig

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyAngelika

quote:

What do you think is the single most important duty of your elected representatives?


Keeping everyone healthy. Which means providing health care and accessible education and...

oooops... wrong country ;-)

- LA

Yup, I was right...Canadian girls ROCK!



Yay!! :-)

- LA


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Une main de fer dans un gant de velours ~ An iron hand in a velvet glove

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 10:01:28 PM   
juliaoceania


Posts: 21383
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From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
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quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub

lol...You don't seem to understand …I don't care what the Federalist papers say... I want to know what you think and say. This is the point of the thread.

Not to go over what has been said in the past but what you feel in your heart is important. If it agrees what others have said in the past then so be it but let it come from you not a reference.

Butch



So you can go into a long dissertation on the purposes of government, and even evoke the constitution to support your position, yet I am not allowed to refer you to the conversations that instigated that document? Your suppositions about the constitution and what it means in relation to the constitution and the very reason it was framed the way it was are integral to the conversation the way you proposed it...

Why not pull stuff out of the constitution since you evoked it to support your position? I see, you are allowed to do that, but I am not allowed the same latitude in responding.

What do I think the role of government is? Well since I have no sacred cows, including the constitution if it one day keeps us from progressing into the future, I guess I think that government exists to serve the people, in whatever capacity it is that they need serving... 



< Message edited by juliaoceania -- 2/25/2010 10:05:32 PM >

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 10:07:20 PM   
kdsub


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quote:

ORIGINAL: lazarus1983

To neither help, nor hinder the people.


If not to help then what use is government? And who would know the wants of the people without elections of representatives? Otherwise how could government hinder the will of the majority when the same elects them?

Butch


_____________________________

Mark Twain:

I don't see any use in having a uniform and arbitrary way of spelling words. We might as well make all clothes alike and cook all dishes alike. Sameness is tiresome; variety is pleasing

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 10:18:40 PM   
kdsub


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quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

So you can go into a long dissertation on the purposes of government, and even evoke the constitution to support your position, yet I am not allowed to refer you to the conversations that instigated that document?



Yes that is correct... I listed one and only one single most important duty.

quote:



I guess I think that government exists to serve the people, in whatever capacity it is that they need serving... 



Thank you finally ...now if you want to expound on your statement feel free.
I wonder if you are saying to serve the majority.

Butch

_____________________________

Mark Twain:

I don't see any use in having a uniform and arbitrary way of spelling words. We might as well make all clothes alike and cook all dishes alike. Sameness is tiresome; variety is pleasing

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 10:23:32 PM   
juliaoceania


Posts: 21383
Joined: 4/19/2006
From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Status: offline
quote:

Yes that is correct... I listed one and only one single most important duty.


quote:

I believe the most important duty is to govern by and follow the will of the majority while protecting the rights of the minority through the Constitution.

I believe our government today is going wrong by following the will of the party. This to me explains why the electorate is constantly changing from party to party. They are trying to find representatives that care more about their wishes then political party platforms.

As an example…if representatives followed their continuants whishes and needs there would be many Democrats voting against healthcare reform…but there would also be many Republicans voting for it. This diversity in thought of the voters is not being reflected in the politicians they elect.

True leadership would be to vote your beliefs even if they do not match the party line. Personally I hope a third party forms to challenge the established even if it is named the Tea Party. At least it would force some elected officials to compromise.


I would not call that verbose post listing "one duty"


And no, I have no interest in expounding on my post with majority minority political party... yadda yadda yadda...

You asked a question, I listed the one duty, and I am more than happy to stick to that


_____________________________

Once you label me, you negate me ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Reality has a well known Liberal Bias ~ Stephen Colbert

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 10:27:37 PM   
TheHeretic


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quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyAngelika

oooops... wrong country ;-)




Damn right.  We haven't annexed ya'll yet.

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RE: To all in the US …What is the most important duty... - 2/25/2010 10:28:33 PM   
Musicmystery


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