ETC: Everyday Thoughts Collected - Latest Comments in The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

ETC TOP TEN! : Say No To Porn, — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:32:05 -0000

[...] The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You To See - I think we all know why this one is popular. [...]

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Randy — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:13:07 -0000

Dave Ramsey is cool and very intelligent.

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Ellie — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:47:12 -0000

Stephen, term limits make politicians *less* accountable to voters. Accountability in a democracy is established via the idea that do well, you will be re-elected, do poorly, you will be voted out. If you make it so that a senator can only serve two terms (12 years total), then once their second term starts, they will not be accountable to the voter for anything that they do. And I'm sorry, but "legacy" is not a driving motivator for the average politician. So if you put term limits in place, every incumbent will be free to defer decisions, vote for quick fixes, etc., knowing that their successor will have to deal with it.

In political systems where there are term limits in place already, politicians still run for consecutive terms, they don't space them out as you're suggesting they would. Also, it usually takes at least a year for a newly elected official to learn how to function within whatever body he is elected to. By the time he has acclimated and can start pointing things out to 'the incumbents" he is an incumbent himself.

The best way to get rid of career politicians, is to get rid of politics as a career. Originally the congress was filled with people who actually had to work for a living (this is what the much-maligned white, male, property owners did). Their work in congress came with a small salary to make up for the time spent doing government business, but they still had to make sure that their own farm/business was still functioning. Usually by running it themselves. It's the living wage Congress has voted itself that allows for career politicians.

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Stephen_Black — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:20:29 -0000

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Ellie — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:28:33 -0000

"term limits would bring a greater level of accountability"

How so?

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

editorgal — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:17:45 -0000

Love that quote. Try to live that quote! Mostly, pray He shines through my cracked & broken self!

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Stephen_Black — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:44:03 -0000

Amen sister... be the light, be the salt, evangelize and if necessary use words. :-)

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Stephen_Black — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:42:26 -0000

Sorry sis... I don't agree... term limits would bring a greater level of accountability... and that is what is needed first.

There must be a promotion of character and integrity. I cannot see another way around making sure the people of the USA can police it as voters. It is out of control in the Christless, immoral self-centered narcissistic generation. We need a sweeping Revival, so until then... we need term limits.

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Stephen_Black — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:39:09 -0000

Exactly... no reason not to have term limits... and it could be once out, you rest and re-run after 2 or 4 years. I would be very satisfied with that... it needs to happen... Congress is untrustworthy!

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Stephen_Black — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:37:37 -0000

Dave Ramsey has some great ideas that are circulating around the Internet. It is laid out well on his web site. We need to hold the Congress accountable. I hope each of you will call, as I have to voice opinions on this matter... FINALLY it seems they are actually listening to the citizens out of fear of being voted out of office! I do not want me, or my children or grandchildren to have to pay for this mess! IT IS SO WRONG!

http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/fed_bailout/3_ste...

This is a very sound plan!

GOD HAVE MERCY ON US! Oh Lord hear our prayer that Congress will act with wisdom!

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Ellie — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:50:58 -0000

I really don't know...but I'm leaning towards no. Term limits obviate a certain amount of accountability. The legislature can make a bubble gum and shoe string fix to a giant problem (eg, take out gigantic loans to solve a budget crisis that will be continually recurring, rather than actually balancing the budget), and then when the problem comes up again, a whole new crop has to deal with it. Meanwhile, the legislature that first created/deferred the problem is gone, because their terms have expired, and they will never be held accountable.

The problem with the American political system oftentimes seems to be the fact that everybody is happy until something goes wrong, and then once it rights itself, they go back to being happy again. It's like the oil crisis. We should have figured out, in the seventies when OPEC put the embargo in place, that we needed to find an alternative source of fuel. But as soon as the embargo was over, we went back to business as usual, reminded of the oil crisis only because of those pesky compact spaces left over from the seventies, that no one can park in because nobody drives a compact anymore. Now, oil is a huge issue again, and we're finally deciding to do the research to find alternative fuels, twenty years too late.

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

RThomasETC — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:13:07 -0000

Dave Ramsey is cool and very intelligent.

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

BTCarolus — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:47:12 -0000

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Stephen_Black — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:20:29 -0000

The pressure of being accountable to voters and what a person's legacy would be while in Congress. However, this also give new participants in the process the ability to continue to point out the problems of the incumbents and improve. I hope that makes sense :-) God bless!

And quite frankly... I am tired of careerer politicians who do not actually have the people of the USA as their priority... It has become congressmen thinking "ME as a god of the Congress. What I say is good for the people." It must be changed.

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Randy — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:18:57 -0000

There so much of it ... and it is getting worse.

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Randy — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:17:56 -0000

Wow... That's awful. Isn't there something that could be done to prevent that and keep term limits?

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

editorgal — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:16:31 -0000

Oh, sort of like setting the fox to guard the hen house, huh? That bites.

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Mensley — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:08:34 -0000

Ignorance is the Big Oil of the Left. Keep getting the info out there!

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

BTCarolus — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:28:33 -0000

"term limits would bring a greater level of accountability"

How so?

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

editorgal — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:17:45 -0000

Love that quote. Try to live that quote! Mostly, pray He shines through my cracked & broken self!

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Stephen_Black — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:44:03 -0000

Amen sister... be the light, be the salt, evangelize and if necessary use words. :-)

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Stephen_Black — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:42:26 -0000

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Stephen_Black — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:39:09 -0000

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

Stephen_Black — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:37:37 -0000

Re: The Economic Meltdown Timeline That Leading Democrats Don’t Want You to See

BTCarolus — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:50:58 -0000