TreasureKY
Posts: 3032
Joined: 4/10/2007
From: Kentucky
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: samboct
Hi Treasure
I'm going to see if I can find Jim Cooper's comments on why Congress is dysfunctional. I'm sorry, I've met too many Congressman, Senators, and governors to believe that most folks in gov't are crooked. However, there's something about a few bad apples can spoil a barrel...Mind you, I've also met a judge that was corrupt as all get out (he's in PA-retired) as well as an ex-gov of CT who did time for kickbacks, so I've seen some folks that clearly are crooked. I just don't think that's the standard. So I think what Jim Cooper came up with is correct.
Sam
OK- found it. It's not long- highly recommended reading: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/opinion/the-last-moderate.html?scp=1&sq=jim%20cooper&st=cse
An interesting read, Sam, and one that doesn't surprise me.
Don't get me wrong... when I said, "I also think there are just some seriously crooked people in politics", I didn't say most. As my post indicated, I really think that there is more a problem with the environment.
I cannot dismiss the comments of Mr. Cooper, at all, and I do think the environment of Congress is such that it has helped to breed the problems he discusses. Unfortunately one of the biggest issues that stems from the environment involves communication... an interesting thing to lose in this age of high tech and high speed communication.
I believe that with the increased responsibility and larger constituency, legislators are having to rely more on information being fed to them (via staff and Party representatives) and though our modern methods of communication. Unfortunately, I feel those methods are skewing the message.
It would be unfair of me to lay blame at any one particular set of feet... Lord only knows there is enough blame to go around... but the media plays a very large part in this problem. I think the news agencies are responsible for distorting much of the information all for the sake of sensationalism and sales.
I think most people would agree that hearing Mr. or Ms. Average Responsible Citizen talking about issues that impact their lives isn't nearly as compelling as watching some fringe element passionately demonstrate or pontificate concerning their campaign.
In the same respect, watching our Congress handling mundane matters doesn't make for very interesting TV. So we get dramatic sound bytes, stressing the conflict.
I believe the media magnifies problems and distracts legislators from some of those more mundane (but important) issues that need addressing. (How much time, money and effort has been wasted trying to crucify some Politician "violator" outed by the media?)
And if a popular national news program does a feature story on, say... an earthquake that caused severe issues with nuclear reactors in Japan, or a school system caught fudging test numbers, or a popular device is potentially linked to health issues... and implies or questions or speculates that the same thing could happen in our own backyard, it might cause viewers to reach out to their legislators to "do something" to prevent it.
That isn't to say that the issues being raised aren't valid, but that our legislators can only handle so many things at one time. If the majority of the communications they are receiving are being influence by what the media has decided will be the most exciting story of the day, then they are likely going to get the impression that that is what their constituents are most concerned about... and where their attention should be.
To be honest, I seriously doubt that the majority of Americans bother to ever contact their Senator or Representative (if they even know who they are). People are only going to contact them when their emotions have been raised, and let's face it, news programs try to appeal to our emotions. That's how they make money.
Another huge problem in the communication pipeline is lobbyists. Lobbying is big business and a great deal of money spent trying to influence legislation. If a harried legislator with a full schedule is constantly being exposed to communications stemming from lobbyist action, he'll likely get the impression that those issues presented are ones he needs to be concerned about.
Anyway, I'm tired and I've rambled on... probably not making a whole lot of sense. But I honestly believe our Congress lives in a bubble. Their world is so far removed from ours, that it isn't surprising they've developed warped methods of working.
|
RE: Opinions on President Obama's Jobs Speech... - 
Profile
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread