3 ms·

And you say that as if the Democrats are concerned about the will of the people. The problem is that Congress, in general, is bought and paid for by their favor

And you say that as if the Democrats are concerned about the will of the people. The problem is that Congress, in general, is bought and paid for by their favorite special interests and no one in congress really cares about what the people think.

balabaster 8y ago
You can be supported all you like by special interest groups. If people don't vote for you, you're ejected from office. So at some point, they have to keep up the appearance of standing for the people.
- ratsmack 8y ago
  The only time they "appear" to care is when they are campaigning and saying all the right things you want to hear. But on return to Congress, it is just business as usual.
  - crooked-v 8y ago
    The article you're commenting about would suggest otherwise.
  - hannasanarion 8y ago
    Politicians overwhelmingly tend to keep their promises[1]. Democrats have tried many times to get money out of politics, but they were obstructed by Republicans (who have never promised such) on every attempt. 1. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trust-us-politicians-keep-most-of-their-promises/ https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trust-us-politicians-ke...
hannasanarion 8y ago
Democrats have a long track record of trying to get money out of politics. A constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and establish public funding of election campaigns has been on the platform since 2014, and it was one of Hillary Clinton's chief campaign promises. For Republicans, it is just the opposite: they voted unanimously against an amendment proposal to overturn citizens united (all Democrats in favor)[1], unanimously against a bill requiring fincial disclosures of campaign finance (all Democrats in favor)[2], twice[3], against a ban on dark money campaign ads[4], unanimously in favor of a repeal of the existing pittance of public campaign money (all Democrats against)[5], and against a bill to require auditable paper trails of elections (all Democrats in favor)[6] Money in politics is absolutely NOT a "both sides" issue. 1. https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/49906 https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/49906 2. https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/32154 https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/32154 3. https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/41152 https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/41152 4. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll034.xml http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll034.xml 5. https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/37426 https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/37426 6. https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/21011 https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/21011
- ratsmack 8y ago
  Let's take a look at Democrat vs Republican fund raising: https://www.opensecrets.org/overview/ https://www.opensecrets.org/overview/
  - hannasanarion 8y ago
    The fact that PAC money is needed to win elections doesn't mean that everyone supports PAC money. There are multiple PACs whose stated goals are to abolish PACs. Look at the votes. Republicans vote to defend money in politics, Democrats vote to abolish it. The pattern has been very consistent for over a decade.
- paulddraper 8y ago
  Meanwhile, Republicans typically prefer term limits instead, and are typically opposed by Democrats. [1] [2] TBH it amazes me that Congress has as much power as they do over campaign finance. Ads, etc. are form of political speech. And restricting political speech is nigh unto violating the 1st Amendment. [1] https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/report/national-vote-advance-term-limits https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/report/national-... [2] https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/208395-senate-rejects-amendment-recommending-congressional-term-limit- https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/208395-senate-...
  - hannasanarion 8y ago
    Well term limits are a genuinely bad idea. They make sense for the President, because the Presidency is a uniquely powerful office, and a perpetual president is a real threat to democracy. A perpetual representative, who wields 1/535th of America's executive power is not going to cause much harm, certainly not enough to justify overriding the will of the people who would keep them in office if they could. Consider also, term limits would speed up the revolving door between lobbyists and congress, by forcing people out before they're ready to leave, and replacing them with legislators who are less experienced and easier to manipulate.
    - 8y ago

balabaster 8y ago

You can be supported all you like by special interest groups. If people don't vote for you, you're ejected from office. So at some point, they have to keep up the appearance of standing for the people.

ratsmack 8y ago
The only time they "appear" to care is when they are campaigning and saying all the right things you want to hear. But on return to Congress, it is just business as usual.
- crooked-v 8y ago
  The article you're commenting about would suggest otherwise.
- hannasanarion 8y ago
  Politicians overwhelmingly tend to keep their promises[1]. Democrats have tried many times to get money out of politics, but they were obstructed by Republicans (who have never promised such) on every attempt. 1. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trust-us-politicians-keep-most-of-their-promises/ https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trust-us-politicians-ke...

hannasanarion 8y ago

Democrats have a long track record of trying to get money out of politics. A constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and establish public funding of election campaigns has been on the platform since 2014, and it was one of Hillary Clinton's chief campaign promises. For Republicans, it is just the opposite: they voted unanimously against an amendment proposal to overturn citizens united (all Democrats in favor)[1], unanimously against a bill requiring fincial disclosures of campaign finance (all Democrats in favor)[2], twice[3], against a ban on dark money campaign ads[4], unanimously in favor of a repeal of the existing pittance of public campaign money (all Democrats against)[5], and against a bill to require auditable paper trails of elections (all Democrats in favor)[6] Money in politics is absolutely NOT a "both sides" issue. 1. https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/49906 https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/49906 2. https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/32154 https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/32154 3. https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/41152 https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/41152 4. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll034.xml http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll034.xml 5. https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/37426 https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/37426 6. https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/21011 https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/21011

ratsmack 8y ago
Let's take a look at Democrat vs Republican fund raising: https://www.opensecrets.org/overview/ https://www.opensecrets.org/overview/
- hannasanarion 8y ago
  The fact that PAC money is needed to win elections doesn't mean that everyone supports PAC money. There are multiple PACs whose stated goals are to abolish PACs. Look at the votes. Republicans vote to defend money in politics, Democrats vote to abolish it. The pattern has been very consistent for over a decade.
paulddraper 8y ago
Meanwhile, Republicans typically prefer term limits instead, and are typically opposed by Democrats. [1] [2] TBH it amazes me that Congress has as much power as they do over campaign finance. Ads, etc. are form of political speech. And restricting political speech is nigh unto violating the 1st Amendment. [1] https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/report/national-vote-advance-term-limits https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/report/national-... [2] https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/208395-senate-rejects-amendment-recommending-congressional-term-limit- https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/208395-senate-...
- hannasanarion 8y ago
  Well term limits are a genuinely bad idea. They make sense for the President, because the Presidency is a uniquely powerful office, and a perpetual president is a real threat to democracy. A perpetual representative, who wields 1/535th of America's executive power is not going to cause much harm, certainly not enough to justify overriding the will of the people who would keep them in office if they could. Consider also, term limits would speed up the revolving door between lobbyists and congress, by forcing people out before they're ready to leave, and replacing them with legislators who are less experienced and easier to manipulate.
  - 8y ago