Does Your Government Represent You

[plumbdog10]

Do You Feel Your Government Represents the Interests of You and Your Family?

Do You Feel Your Government does not Represent the Interest of Your Family?

Don't Know/Don't Care.

Those are the options I'm interested in your opinions.

[oldslowchevy]

dog to be 100% honest i feel the goverment now is out for it self more now then ever in the past that i can remember, but as far as representing me i would have to say 20-40% of our current goverment is for me depending in the areas that we speak of,30-70% tries to cover the "nation" as a whole and not indivigelly(even spell check looked at me funny on this one) but i feel there are more and more state and county laws being made up to "hurt" the poor and lowwer class that keeps them poorer by paying fines that they can't pay and buy making gas prices so high that many feel it is better to lose there low paying jobs and collect unemployment vs. filling there tank at over $150 a week and $100 a month for insurece. think about it if you are only making say $1200 a month(witch many americans do) and you take $700 away just to get back and fourth to work how can you live off of $500 a month? i think our goverment can help these people out some how at least the are tring to make a living.these are the people our goverment both local and fedaral need to help out.

[westcoastplumber]

Very good points by both oldslowchevy and gear junkie. :)

[Crappy days]

Government, The problem with government. I think the problem with government is really with the people. I would be curious to know how many of us keep up on our elected officials. Last night I was talking with my sister in law who went on a rant. Government this government that screw Bush screw Chaney. Then she started going on about how great this person was or that person was. Then I asked do you know how that person voted on this bill or that bill. Of course she didn't. I think this represent 70 to 90 percent of our society. I know plenty of people my age older and younger who blindly vote based on party, or one thing like abortion. I do not expect anything from government other than to leave me alone and let me keep as much of my money as possible. Until the public starts taking a real interest in this nation, things are going to remain the same. If I learned one thing from my Dad it was to not expect anything from anyone. I hear people tell there boo hoo stories and think ,get over it. I am a high school drop out. I didn't get to where I'm at by waiting for the government to help me. I am involved with local politics. I go to local meetings and from time to time call our elected officials on things. Like the time the vice mayor got an addition passed when others on his street could not. I wasn't popular, and was harassed afterwords. But it was the right thing to do. Last year my local council members voted against speed bumps on our residential road. I along with several of my neighbors took a poll of the neighborhood. We found it to be almost unanimous for the speed bumps(to keep the dumdsh*ts from going 90 mph two blocks from a school. The city council said it wasn't in the budget. Well over three grand was in the budget for embroidered coats and golf tees, for eight elected officials. Thats right three grand for eight jackets and 24 golf shirts. I guess the council members thought it was more important how they look in public then the safety of its people. Now I know what some are you are thinking this is petty crap. Well it would be, if the money came out of funds for this . But it didn't it came out of tax dollars set aside for community improvements. To end the government does represent allot of the voting public, most of the officials elected are just as uninformed as the people who elect them.

[Gene Bickford]

Every election year a State rep and /or town council rep will knock on my door and tell me what they stand for. Never once have I been asked what I feel about an issue.
I have contacted State/local reps and have told them how I feel and how I want them to vote but I have come to the conclusion it is nothing but a waste of my time. They have already made up their mind months before a vote. They have already been to the media/debate and have said how they intend to vote before I or the general public has a chance to express their concerns. Have you EVER heard of a rep announcing how they will vote on Monday and then announce on Thursday that he/she will be changing their vote due to the concerns of their constituents?
You ever hear of a rep saying" The majority of the people in the district I represent have asked me to vote yes/no"? Its ALWAYS' I' vote yes/no.
So do I feel Government represents me? NO.

[plumberscrack]

Plumbdog, if you wanted to start a fire you chose the right fuel...Government :eek:

Born and raised on the the streets of Wash. D.C. long ago I became jaded to the political environment that I live in. It's a real circus atmosphere inside the Capital beltway. The 110th Democratic ruled congress has done nothing under the new leadership. They promised a new direction for America and what have they given us so far? Immigration reform?..no. Get us started out of Iraq?...no. Extend health care to the millions of uninsured children...umm.....no. At least they did increase the minimum wage +$2.10 over the next 3 years.:rolleyes: Even on a local level it's a joke. Our former illustrious mayor still sits on the city council. You remember Mayor Marion Barry right? He's the one that was caught on video tape smoking crack with a prositute in a hotel room. His excuse: "That B*tch set me up!" Yea, we voted him back into office and still represents Ward 8.:eek: I have a few Congressmen and Senators for clients and after spending some time snooping around their houses most have dirty little secrets to hide.:p

[VASandy]

Plumber, I grew up next to you, I think!!! The government is failing us, yes. In that same vein, they have given up because WE have given up on them. When you say your congressman has already made his mind up on a vote, and so doesn't listen to you, then get ACTIVE in a campaign for his replacement.

I've been stymied by a situation. A very close friend of mine married a darling woman from England. She came here to live with her son and daughter. She is now a citizen, as her daughter is. Unfortunately, her son, now 24, "aged out" while waiting for the INS to process his paperwork. He's doing everything LEGALLY, but is facing a 10-year deportation. If that happens, the US will lose not just one very hard-working, honest 24-year-old, but an entire family. These people are trying to do things right. It's disgusting to me to watch what our country is doing to them. I have gone to the Hill and talked to Senator Wolf's young aide. Nothing. Not a single thing from them. We've talked to Congressmen. No help. This is pathetic. I'm angered, and I'm ready to do all I can to make these guys listen. There's many other families now caught in this Kafka-esque diabolical Immigration idiocy. Yes, we need Immigration reform. Unfortunately, we need COMMON SENSE reform. Not gonna happen with this bunch of power-fevered fools.

Plumber...some day...maybe we'll meet at a political rally. I can only hope to see everyone as active in this system as we can be. Whatever side you may be on, as long as you're doing your part, we'll improve. Our participation is a responsibility, not a right.

[Woussko]

If I got going on this subject The Ridge Tool Co. servers would all go KaBoom. No way do I want that happening.

[plumbdog10]

If I got going on this subject The Ridge Tool Co. servers would all go KaBoom. No way do I want that happening.

OK, you are keeping with your traditional irrational posts, I would actually like to hear your opinion. What is it?

[oldslowchevy]

dog, how do you feel about it? since you asked

[JWMustang]

Right on Crappy days.

[plumberscrack]

Plumber, I grew up next to you, I think!!! The government is failing us, yes. In that same vein, they have given up because WE have given up on them. When you say your congressman has already made his mind up on a vote, and so doesn't listen to you, then get ACTIVE in a campaign for his replacement.

I've been stymied by a situation. A very close friend of mine married a darling woman from England. She came here to live with her son and daughter. She is now a citizen, as her daughter is. Unfortunately, her son, now 24, "aged out" while waiting for the INS to process his paperwork. He's doing everything LEGALLY, but is facing a 10-year deportation. If that happens, the US will lose not just one very hard-working, honest 24-year-old, but an entire family. These people are trying to do things right. It's disgusting to me to watch what our country is doing to them. I have gone to the Hill and talked to Senator Wolf's young aide. Nothing. Not a single thing from them. We've talked to Congressmen. No help. This is pathetic. I'm angered, and I'm ready to do all I can to make these guys listen. There's many other families now caught in this Kafka-esque diabolical Immigration idiocy. Yes, we need Immigration reform. Unfortunately, we need COMMON SENSE reform. Not gonna happen with this bunch of power-fevered fools.

Plumber...some day...maybe we'll meet at a political rally. I can only hope to see everyone as active in this system as we can be. Whatever side you may be on, as long as you're doing your part, we'll improve. Our participation is a responsibility, not a right.

Well said Sandy, but your Congressman Frank Wolf couldn't hear you because he was in the pocket of some lobbyist. I wonder why he voted NO on new ethics rules for lobbyists and members of Congress.:confused: Jim Moran isn't any better in the 8th District either.:(

[plumbdog10]

Government, The problem with government. I think the problem with government is really with the people. I would be curious to know how many of us keep up on our elected officials. Last night I was talking with my sister in law who went on a rant. Government this government that screw Bush screw Chaney. Then she started going on about how great this person was or that person was. Then I asked do you know how that person voted on this bill or that bill. Of course she didn't. I think this represent 70 to 90 percent of our society. I know plenty of people my age older and younger who blindly vote based on party, or one thing like abortion. I do not expect anything from government other than to leave me alone and let me keep as much of my money as possible. Until the public starts taking a real interest in this nation, things are going to remain the same. If I learned one thing from my Dad it was to not expect anything from anyone. I hear people tell there boo hoo stories and think ,get over it. I am a high school drop out. I didn't get to where I'm at by waiting for the government to help me. I am involved with local politics. I go to local meetings and from time to time call our elected officials on things. Like the time the vice mayor got an addition passed when others on his street could not. I wasn't popular, and was harassed afterwords. But it was the right thing to do. Last year my local council members voted against speed bumps on our residential road. I along with several of my neighbors took a poll of the neighborhood. We found it to be almost unanimous for the speed bumps(to keep the dumdsh*ts from going 90 mph two blocks from a school. The city council said it wasn't in the budget. Well over three grand was in the budget for embroidered coats and golf tees, for eight elected officials. Thats right three grand for eight jackets and 24 golf shirts. I guess the council members thought it was more important how they look in public then the safety of its people. Now I know what some are you are thinking this is petty crap. Well it would be, if the money came out of funds for this . But it didn't it came out of tax dollars set aside for community improvements. To end the government does represent allot of the voting public, most of the officials elected are just as uninformed as the people who elect them.

In my opinion, Crappy is exibiting the true American spirit. I don't know if I agree with him, I'm not a member of his town, but if every American got involved like he does, we would have a much better country.

[Rafael]

If govt represented my thoughts then every member of congress would need to shoot themselves. They are all traitors and deserve what traitors deserve.

[freddy]

Well Put Rafael!!! They need to all go home, liars that they are. :mad:

[plumbdog10]

Well Put Rafael!!! They need to all go home, liars that they are. :mad:

I hear that from everyone, but no one votes them out.

[Gofor]

With the cost of running for any office, other than in some cases local, our current politicians have sold their souls just to get into the running. Regardless of what they say, their party will pressure them if the person who donates does not do it personnally. So, what we have is government by the highest bidder. Highest bidder sometimes is dollars directly, but more often it is votes that are delivered through very expensive campaigns by special interest groups, etc. Lobbyists are the people who interface directly between the dollars/votes and the congressman.

So IMHO, politicians do not represent me or my best interests. Politicians do the bidding that can further their own personal objectives, which is power first and dollars second. Because the politicans change or amend laws to suit their interests, and make the decisions in government, I feel they do not represent me nor the majority of the people who are legal citizens of this country.

If the US congress Really thought all their choices were in the best interests of the populace, they would not exempt themselves from so many of the laws they pass, and would not have a totally separate "for life" retirement benefit that is funded by our dollars, not from deductions from their income.

That said, yes I do vote in every election. I do my best to stay informed on the bills that are moving throught the state and federal governments. I also feel this is without a doubt currently the best country in the world to live in. I do have my doubts about it staying that way, tho.

Go

[freddy]

I hear that from everyone, but no one votes them out.

Sorry,I gave up voting along time ago. with all the lobbing and special intrest groups, We, the people have NO chance to change a corrupte goverment as this one is. To think your vote is making an impack in any important way, is like believing in the tooth fairy. You vote one honest guy in and in weeks he will looking out for his best interest. The money wasted in goverment and on the politicians is shameful. I agree with what Gofor said, but for me. I have much better things to do with my time. :)

[Crappy days]

"Sorry,I gave up voting along time ago. with all the lobbing and special interest groups, We, the people have NO chance to change a corrupt government as this one is. To think your vote is making an impact in any important way, is like believing in the tooth fairy. You vote one honest guy in and in weeks he will looking out for his best interest. The money wasted in government and on the politicians is shameful. I agree with what Gofer said, but for me. I have much better things to do with my time. "


Freddy, I can understand your frustration with politics or government in general. However it is that type of attitude that hurts our country more than any politician. I encourage you to be more involved on a local level. Once you get to see change on a small local level you will be able to see the effect you have. The old saying everything trickles down hill is b*ll sh*t, in government it goes both ways.

Before I had children I could not quite understand when people would say it takes a village to raise a child. Now I can understand it much better. The same goes with government. The more people involved the better it is. Just look around you. The nice areas of town are nicer because there are people that live there, that are affluent. Most people would say they are nice because there is more money. I can tell you it doesn't take much other than determination to improve things. If everyone had the same determination as wealthy people the whole US would be better. The difference between the nice parts of town and the bad areas, is in the good areas there are people that hold the politicians accountable.

Start going to your local town hall meetings. As a business owner you should be involved anyhow. You will be amazed at how few people under 50 are there . Don't be afraid to rock the boat if you see something wrong. Such as up keep of tax maintained streets parks etc. Just get involved and at the end of the day at least you can say I tried to change that. It really doesn't take that much time. Spend one night a month reading up on politics and one night on local things (town hall meeting). Just my 2 cents to everyone who feels discouraged.

[freddy]

Crappy I don't agree. the rich areas of town are that way because they own the politician in there area, from the city hall, on up to the mayor of the town. Oh sure they throw a bone to the poor areas once in a while to keep it looking fair. Trying to throw the blame for how this country is because I don't vote. Please, you the voter, voted the people in that are there now. I am just making a general statment. As to how the whole system sucks. And trying to change it is like trying to sweep out the tide. So I see no real reason to vote. The rich keep getting richer, And the poor keep getting poorer. Why have you and your fellow voters, not voted to stop politicians from getting a totally separate "for life" retirement benefit that is funded by our dollars, not from deductions from their income. as gofor has posted. The answer is simple you CAN'T As I see by the poll, on this forum everyone is very pleased with the goverment. :)

[Crappy days]

Freddy, I don't want to start a debate over this. But it just blows me away when I hear people that don't vote or participate complain. In my opinion you have no room or reason to complain. As I have said before I grew up in Rhode Island, one of the most Liberal states there is. I lived in extremely wealthy areas and some of the poorest. The only difference I found between the two is the same thing going on with this post. Those who want to point the finger and those who want to use it to do something.

A great example of this happened several years ago. I and my wife owned a condo. All of our neighbors complained regularly about a abandoned lot across the street. One of the old guys suggested calling the city. The condo board called the city. The city said the lot was privately owned, we then placed a call to the owner . He politely told us to pound sand , that it wasn't bothering him and the city was not enforcing him to do anything about it. At one of the board meetings someone suggested everyone spend a Saturday cleaning it. Everyone except another couple my wife and I, refused. We spent two Saturdays cleaning that lot. On the second Saturday the owner happened to drive by. He stopped and asked us what we were doing. We told him the lot was an eye soar and we were cleaning it. At that moment he was horribly embarrassed. He asked us to stop and then hired a company to regularly maintain an up keep the lot. Granted this isn't how every situation turns out. But sometimes it only takes one person to convince others to care.

People should just start doing things whether they have something to gain from it or not. Or they should just be quiet. Martin Luther King is a great example of this . He wanted and worked for change even dieing for it . Instead now people just complain and don't vote. Its like the guy that lived his life never saving for retirement then expects everyone else to take care of him.

[freddy]

Crappy I really not complaining as much as sharing my view as I see It. I could care less what or who get voted in. I will either follow the laws or I won't. Just look at it this way with me not voting it help you so your vote counts :D And how did you find out about my retirement plan!!!! I also got my cardboard sign and corner picked out.:D:D

[Crappy days]

Alright Freddy, I understand. You are one of those guys that just want to be left alone. Maybe in the future something will spark your interest until then I will respect your opinion.:):):)