Re: US Government does it work?
 

The system of electing for different terms for President, Senate and the House is intended to permit the people to make changes to the government every two years if they disapprove of the way it is working. Problem is, too many damned stupid voters and radicals. Too many rational people stay home on election day if there is no Presidential race. As soon as you get a divided government between the House and the Senate you get gridlock to some degree. It is a somewhat odd system in some ways. Senate, 1/3 up for election every two years, but all of the House up for election every two years.
Terms limits have some advantage, but some disadvantages too when it comes to the House. Imagine if half the House of Representatives (and it could be more) turned over in one election. The new folks literally have no time to get up to speed, learn the ropes, become well informed about the budget (and that is their responsibility), legislation pending, rules and regulations etc because they have to start preparing for their reelection campaign almost as soon as they arrive. After all, it's only two years. So they just make waves, spout bullshit and vote for or against legislation based almost entirely on their perception or political position and not on the facts or reality.

The real need is for serious reform of the campaign funding and campaign process. Take the big money out of it and shorten the permissible campaign time to three months. No more of those special groups that supposedly do not support a particular candidate but can raise vast sums of money to in effect covertly support them by engaging in things like the Swift Boat campaign. No more robo calling. No more corporate donations that basically buy influence. Equal air time for candidates. No big cash advantage for anyone to be able to bury their competition. And stagger the House elections so that only half are up for reelection every two years.

The problem becomes that pesky Constitution thing that right wing Supreme Court Justices want to interpret as corporations being 'people' under the free speech amendment and therefore being able to publicly campaign via ads for or against certain candidates or parties. I doubt the founding fathers intended that amendment to support what borders on corrupt buying of political influence by corporations and special interest groups.

The system is a hodge podge and a cluster **** bought and paid for by whomever has the most money to spend.

Re: US Government does it work?
 

Unfortunately the current house and senate does not represent what the constitution envisioned. There is nothing in the constitution that says that one senator can filibuster a bill or that it requires a 60% vote to get anything passed (these are just senate rules). The constitution also did not envision that a small portion of a party (the tea party) could terrify the rest of their party (the republican party) so badly as to bring the country to it's knees.

Re: US Government does it work?
 

No wonder the voter turn out is so poor. It's become too cumbersome and although there are only two parties those parties are made up of splinter groups with their own agenda's.

Re: US Government does it work?
 

Ooohh!!! Can I get my crystal out.....?:p

Re: US Government does it work?
 

Welcome to the USA - land of the free - so long as you can afford it!:p

Re: US Government does it work?
 

Apparently in the UK the most a candidate for Parliament can spend on their campaign is £20K.... so candidates and their activists have to go door to door - imagine THAT here in Phoenix in a 110' heat!!!

And to quote from a couple of films... "I was too busy trying to keep my job that I forgot to DO my job..." from 'The American President'

and... "Who are you going to vote for? NONE OF THE ABOVE!!!" from 'Brewster's Millions'

and my favourite...

"Why would you spend $10 million to win election to a post that pays $60K a year, unless you planned to screw the people?" - also from Monty Brewster!!!

MONTY!!! MONTY!!! MONTY!!! MONTY!!!

Re: US Government does it work?
 

My students here in Lima often talk about corruption in government. I tell them that we have it too. It's just that in the U.S. it's a legal form of corruption. :lol:

Re: US Government does it work?
 

Another movie every voter should watch. Scary how true-to-life it is...

Re: US Government does it work?
 

Get rid of the congress and the judiciary. Replace both with an "American Dancing with the Idol Stars on Ice" text based voting system. :thumbup:

Re: US Government does it work?
 

Excellent. The next Chief Justice will be a heavily made up 9 year old girl from Chode, AR that handles snakes while singing selections from popular Broadway shows.