grimmeissen
Administrator
Join Date: 1/14/2004
Posts: 1217
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Posted: 7/18/2008 10:58:03 AM
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In nearly every political news source we have--from newspapers to cable tv--we are constantly reminded of the dismal approval ratings of President Bush. His numbers have come from close to 90% approval just after September 11 to his current mark of about 28%. These numbers make sense. He was at his highest popularity when he showed a strong hand after the terrorist attacks, and his support has rapidly dwindled following costly mistakes such as the invasion of Iraq and nearly everything else he has tried to do in the last four years. His numbers hovered right around 50% in 2004, which was plenty enough to get him elected in a close race.
While Bush's statistics make sense over the course of time, one set of numbers are completely baffling. The United States Congress currently sits at a much worse approval rating of only 18%, meaning over 4/5ths of the country are not satisfied with their Representatives and Senators. Just looking at the number itself, it is not too surprising. For the first six years of Bush's presidency, we had neocon warmongers in power who did nothing but further the President's desire for military expansion. They passed no conservative spending bills and did not overturn any liberal causes. As the Republicans went in the tank, the Democrats stepped up to provide their typical socialist idealism, spouting elitist rhetoric that alienates them against everyone but the leftist Bolsheviks on each coast.
So while the numbers themselves aren't questionable, the red flag arises when you realize that Americans continue to vote for the very same people that over 80% of us disapprove of. There is a phenomenon in political circles known as the "incumbent advantage," the incredible odds that returning members of Congress have over those that try to replace them. Statisticians have tried to figure it out for years. They blame the incumbents' ability to raise money, their name awareness, and many other factors. In recent decades, we have averaged well over 90% incumbent victories in House and Senate election races, replacing less than 10% of the 82% that we think are not doing a good job!
Why is it that we disapprove of nearly everything our Congress does, yet we never take the steps to remove any of its members from office? I have to blame it on voters being completely clueless as to what their politicians really are about. Americans have become so tuned into the Democrats vs. Republicans or liberals vs. conservatives debate that they don't spend a single minute looking into the actual positions of their elected officials. Republicans are so blinded by desire for war that they have completely lost their conservative values. Democrats are so wrapped up in collectivism that they forget the original meaning of the word "liberal" (freedom and liberty for the individual). Both sides highly disapprove of Congress' actions, but of course, it's always the other party's fault.
It's time people put their party loyalties aside and let their disapproving opinions come forward. Perhaps it's time to vote for a fiscally conservative Democrat? Or a Republican who isn't a flag-waiving warhawk? Maybe it's time to vote for someone that doesn't have an "R" or a "D" next to their name at all.
One thing is for sure--it's time to put the incumbent parties out of office and put the Common Damn Sense Party in.
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mccracken
VIP Member
Join Date: 1/16/2004
Posts: 262
Location: USA
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Posted: 7/18/2008 8:23:17 PM
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The first thing they need to do is take the R and the D off the ballet. If people didn't know what party a person was, hillarity would ensue. All the folks that stick to the party lines would end up voting for Pat Buchannon. That, or much to their dismay, they'd have to think and research the people they give control of the country to.
Check it out.. check it out... and then pick it out....... Then show me my dinero!!!
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