At least half the posters in here constantly accuse each other of avoiding their tax paying responsibilities.
To an outside observer it seems that precious few 'mericans are interested in paying their fair share....especially those who could easily do so.
The way we do it is to elect a petty dictator every four years or so and if they have aa majority in the House of Commons, do exactly as they wish when they want. None of this months long wrangling.
I can see where your separation of power can be a safeguard in some circumstances but can also be a real hinderance to effective government in times like this.

On Monday, December 31, 2012 9:50:27 AM UTC-4, wrote:
At least half the posters in here constantly accuse each other of avoiding their tax paying responsibilities.

To an outside observer it seems that precious few 'mericans are interested in paying their fair share....especially those who could easily do so.

The way we do it is to elect a petty dictator every four years or so and if they have aa majority in the House of Commons, do exactly as they wish when they want. None of this months long wrangling.

I can see where your separation of power can be a safeguard in some circumstances but can also be a real hinderance to effective government in times like this.

In article ,
says...

At least half the posters in here constantly accuse each other of avoiding their tax paying responsibilities.
To an outside observer it seems that precious few 'mericans are interested in paying their fair share....especially those who could easily do so.
The way we do it is to elect a petty dictator every four years or so and if they have aa majority in the House of Commons, do exactly as they wish when they want. None of this months long wrangling.
I can see where your separation of power can be a safeguard in some circumstances but can also be a real hinderance to effective government in times like this.

Talk to your buddy Harry about that.

I was just reading that with all the negotiations, posturing, name
calling and blaming by members of Congress, it now appears that any
last minute agreement likely to be approved will do absolutely nothing
to address the federal deficit for at least 10 years.

Basically, all this grandstanding for nothing.

Next election cycle, let's boot them all out. Nobody in the real
world could keep a job with such a dismal performance record as these
people have. That includes Democrats and Republicans.

Furthermore, eliminate their federal pension. Require them to pay
into Social Security like anyone else.
Eliminate their special privileges and health care. Make them buy it
like everyone else.

Finally ... pass term limits. No more lifetime politicians.

On Dec 31, 8:14*am, "Eisboch" wrote:
I was just reading that with all the negotiations, posturing, name
calling and blaming by members of Congress, *it now appears that any
last minute agreement likely to be approved will do absolutely nothing
to address the federal deficit for at least 10 years.

Basically, all this grandstanding for nothing.

Next election cycle, let's boot them all out. * Nobody in the real
world could keep a job with such a dismal performance record as these
people have. *That includes Democrats and Republicans.

Furthermore, *eliminate their federal pension. * Require them to pay
into Social Security like anyone else.
Eliminate their special privileges and health care. * Make them buy it
like everyone else.

Finally ... pass term limits. * No more lifetime politicians.

The bad part is ... who and/or what do we replace them with?

On 12/31/12 9:29 AM, Tim wrote:
On Dec 31, 8:14 am, "Eisboch" wrote:
I was just reading that with all the negotiations, posturing, name
calling and blaming by members of Congress, it now appears that any
last minute agreement likely to be approved will do absolutely nothing
to address the federal deficit for at least 10 years.

Basically, all this grandstanding for nothing.

Next election cycle, let's boot them all out. Nobody in the real
world could keep a job with such a dismal performance record as these
people have. That includes Democrats and Republicans.

Furthermore, eliminate their federal pension. Require them to pay
into Social Security like anyone else.
Eliminate their special privileges and health care. Make them buy it
like everyone else.

Finally ... pass term limits. No more lifetime politicians.

The bad part is ... who and/or what do we replace them with?


Precisely.

On 12/31/2012 9:59 AM, ESAD wrote:
On 12/31/12 9:29 AM, Tim wrote:
On Dec 31, 8:14 am, "Eisboch" wrote:
I was just reading that with all the negotiations, posturing, name
calling and blaming by members of Congress, it now appears that any
last minute agreement likely to be approved will do absolutely nothing
to address the federal deficit for at least 10 years.

Basically, all this grandstanding for nothing.

Next election cycle, let's boot them all out. Nobody in the real
world could keep a job with such a dismal performance record as these
people have. That includes Democrats and Republicans.

Furthermore, eliminate their federal pension. Require them to pay
into Social Security like anyone else.
Eliminate their special privileges and health care. Make them buy it
like everyone else.

Finally ... pass term limits. No more lifetime politicians.

The bad part is ... who and/or what do we replace them with?


Precisely.

So your answer is twiddle your thumbs. Idiot.

"ESAD" wrote in message
m...

On 12/31/12 9:29 AM, Tim wrote:
On Dec 31, 8:14 am, "Eisboch" wrote:
I was just reading that with all the negotiations, posturing, name
calling and blaming by members of Congress, it now appears that
any
last minute agreement likely to be approved will do absolutely
nothing
to address the federal deficit for at least 10 years.

Basically, all this grandstanding for nothing.

Next election cycle, let's boot them all out. Nobody in the real
world could keep a job with such a dismal performance record as
these
people have. That includes Democrats and Republicans.

Furthermore, eliminate their federal pension. Require them to
pay
into Social Security like anyone else.
Eliminate their special privileges and health care. Make them buy
it
like everyone else.

Finally ... pass term limits. No more lifetime politicians.

The bad part is ... who and/or what do we replace them with?


Precisely.

---------------------------------------

Maybe I am naive, but I think there must be conscientious citizens
with a patriotic streak that would be willing to serve their country.
They can still promote and work for the interests of their
constituency. Being a member of the House of Representatives or a
Senator for one or two terms is still quite an achievement for anyone.
Pay them well for their time served, but after that they revert back
to private citizens.

In article ,
says...

"ESAD" wrote in message
m...

On 12/31/12 9:29 AM, Tim wrote:
On Dec 31, 8:14 am, "Eisboch" wrote:
I was just reading that with all the negotiations, posturing, name
calling and blaming by members of Congress, it now appears that
any
last minute agreement likely to be approved will do absolutely
nothing
to address the federal deficit for at least 10 years.

Basically, all this grandstanding for nothing.

Next election cycle, let's boot them all out. Nobody in the real
world could keep a job with such a dismal performance record as
these
people have. That includes Democrats and Republicans.

Furthermore, eliminate their federal pension. Require them to
pay
into Social Security like anyone else.
Eliminate their special privileges and health care. Make them buy
it
like everyone else.

Finally ... pass term limits. No more lifetime politicians.

The bad part is ... who and/or what do we replace them with?


Precisely.

---------------------------------------

Maybe I am naive, but I think there must be conscientious citizens
with a patriotic streak that would be willing to serve their country.
They can still promote and work for the interests of their
constituency. Being a member of the House of Representatives or a
Senator for one or two terms is still quite an achievement for anyone.
Pay them well for their time served, but after that they revert back
to private citizens.

I think the problem arises when these politicians have to work full time
at being a politician for not a great deal of compensation for the work
they do. So they lobby special interests, etc. and that creates the
problem.

On 12/31/12 12:53 PM, Eisboch wrote:


"ESAD" wrote in message
m...

On 12/31/12 9:29 AM, Tim wrote:
On Dec 31, 8:14 am, "Eisboch" wrote:
I was just reading that with all the negotiations, posturing, name
calling and blaming by members of Congress, it now appears that any
last minute agreement likely to be approved will do absolutely nothing
to address the federal deficit for at least 10 years.

Basically, all this grandstanding for nothing.

Next election cycle, let's boot them all out. Nobody in the real
world could keep a job with such a dismal performance record as these
people have. That includes Democrats and Republicans.

Furthermore, eliminate their federal pension. Require them to pay
into Social Security like anyone else.
Eliminate their special privileges and health care. Make them buy it
like everyone else.

Finally ... pass term limits. No more lifetime politicians.

The bad part is ... who and/or what do we replace them with?


Precisely.

---------------------------------------

Maybe I am naive, but I think there must be conscientious citizens with
a patriotic streak that would be willing to serve their country. They
can still promote and work for the interests of their constituency.
Being a member of the House of Representatives or a Senator for one or
two terms is still quite an achievement for anyone. Pay them well for
their time served, but after that they revert back to private citizens.




It takes at least a full term in the House and a half term in the Senate
to figure out which end is up. Being a qualified, contributing, thinking
member of Congress takes time and effort. I don't see "terms" as the
answer. I see political fundraising, lobbyists, et cetera, as the
problem. A Representative has to start fundraising for the next election
as soon as he/she is elected.

Further, the committee and oversight duties of Congress are very
complex, too complex to figure out if there are short term limits.