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tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#45076: Dec 26th 2012 at 4:14:29 PM

Payday lenders here in Texas splurged during the 2012 election, with many donations going to various republicans.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#45077: Dec 26th 2012 at 4:18:22 PM

[up][up][up]Depends on the congressman. How many are in an unwinnable situation? Clearly the ones for whom your description is the case aren't going to defect.

edited 26th Dec '12 4:18:43 PM by RadicalTaoist

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#45078: Dec 26th 2012 at 5:28:07 PM

Texas laws as regards financing do appear to be lax, so that is not that surprising.

Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#45080: Dec 26th 2012 at 11:29:34 PM

I really wonder if there is going to be a tipping point where our country just tells our congress to fuck off.

Due to our 2 party system, you cant even vote the jokers out because it'll basically be the same game again.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#45081: Dec 26th 2012 at 11:54:19 PM

Maine governor to announce $35.5 million in spending cuts

UN votes to reopen talks on arms-trade treaty opposed by NRA

edited 26th Dec '12 11:59:36 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#45082: Dec 27th 2012 at 5:07:41 AM

A big part of being in Congress is staying in touch with your home district and fundraising. A lot of members spend Mondays and Fridays traveling so they can spend their weekends palm-pressing, going to town hall meetings and raising money.

Raising money? Shouldn't they be helping the people they represent, and dealing with their problems? There are many more lucrative careers then Politics...

Keep Rolling On
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#45084: Dec 27th 2012 at 5:22:57 AM

In theory if enough people voted for them a substantial portion of their constituency must agree with them. The problem is that not everybody is informed enough about certain issues.

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#45085: Dec 27th 2012 at 5:25:28 AM

[up][up]

Yes, up to a point.

Still dislike the constant money-raising, though. Does the US system have anything like Surgeries, where members of the public can meet their MP and discuss problems with them?

[up]

...and most of the constituency don't care, whatever happens.

edited 27th Dec '12 5:26:22 AM by Greenmantle

Keep Rolling On
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#45086: Dec 27th 2012 at 5:29:56 AM

MP?

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#45087: Dec 27th 2012 at 5:33:36 AM

Member of Parliament, aka. Representative.

edited 27th Dec '12 5:33:43 AM by Greenmantle

Keep Rolling On
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#45088: Dec 27th 2012 at 5:43:11 AM

Is it like lobbying?

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
TheBatPencil from Glasgow, Scotland Since: May, 2011 Relationship Status: I'm just a hunk-a, hunk-a burnin' love
#45089: Dec 27th 2012 at 5:55:35 AM

[up] Not really. You just go into the MP's office say "this is my problem, gonnae bring it up in Parliament/make a public comment/give us a hand?"

edited 27th Dec '12 5:56:09 AM by TheBatPencil

And let us pray that come it may (As come it will for a' that)
Lawyerdude Citizen from my secret moon base Since: Jan, 2001
Citizen
#45090: Dec 27th 2012 at 6:26:50 AM

Members of Congress do that for their major contributors. Remember, your average Congressman has more power and represents more people than your average Member of Parliament. They don't usually bother with one-on-one unless you're important enough.

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#45091: Dec 27th 2012 at 6:31:03 AM

The average size of a British Constituency is ~80,000 (the largest is ~110,000*

)

edited 27th Dec '12 7:10:00 AM by Greenmantle

Keep Rolling On
Lawyerdude Citizen from my secret moon base Since: Jan, 2001
Citizen
#45092: Dec 27th 2012 at 6:59:24 AM

Right. Whereas your average Representative represents over 700,000 people. The number of people who actually turn out to elect them is far lower than that. I once heard it said that politicians' job is to represent 51% of the people in their district who vote. And in the end, that's all that matters.

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#45093: Dec 27th 2012 at 7:07:53 AM

Why do you guys have so few representatives again? I mean I get why the Senate has so few as it's two from each state, but why the house?

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#45094: Dec 27th 2012 at 7:29:57 AM

So few? The House has 435 people in it. It's not a lot when you take into account the total population of the US but paying salaries and providing benefits isn't exactly cheap. I think we could do with a few less but if Puerto Rico does become a state we'll probably add more.

Speaking of which has anything happened with that lately?

Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#45095: Dec 27th 2012 at 7:31:27 AM

[up][up] Originally it was something like 30,000 people get 1 representative. if we still went by that we'd have roughly 10,400 representatives. once we got to the current number we just decided to cap it off and go by proportions.

[up] I think we should pay members of congress and the senate the mean wage of all Americans. THAT might help.

edited 27th Dec '12 7:33:10 AM by Joesolo

I'm baaaaaaack
Lawyerdude Citizen from my secret moon base Since: Jan, 2001
Citizen
#45096: Dec 27th 2012 at 7:36:11 AM

The size of the House is set by law. The current number was fixed in 1913, when the country had only 92 million people. There were a few temporary increases when new states were admitted, but the number always goes back to 435 after the next reapportionment. If the House kept the same proportion it had then, there would be over 1,300 Representatives.

Really, a legislature over a certain size starts to be unworkable. You have to pay them, house them, give them office spaces and committee assignments, and so on. Plus with mass-communication, it's a lot easier for Representatives to stay in touch with larger districts than it was before.

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#45097: Dec 27th 2012 at 7:37:13 AM

[up][up]45k a year? Sounds good to me! Maybe we can actually actually get them to consider raising the minimum wage if that happens. Oh, and give the President twice that just to be fair.

edit: It reminds me of another idea I had. They can't go on break if there are still things that need to be dealt with.

edited 27th Dec '12 7:38:46 AM by Kostya

Couchpotato20 Will kill you from Hell Since: Apr, 2011
Will kill you
#45098: Dec 27th 2012 at 7:39:52 AM

Someone e-mail this article to those jerks in the GOP:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/26/fiscal-cliff-lane-county_n_2365220.html

Seriously, we're this close to the goddamn fiscal cliff and they don't give a damn.

"I don't give a rat's ass about going to hell. I guess it's because I feel like I'm already there." -Mugen
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#45099: Dec 27th 2012 at 7:42:58 AM

Honestly, it's far better if we hit the cliff than if we don't. It puts Obama in a much stronger bargaining positions. Any bargain that they come up with is just going to bleed us to death slowly at this point.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#45100: Dec 27th 2012 at 7:49:45 AM

[up][up]You think we won't have cuts to those things if we don't hit the cliff? Look, I don't like it but if we do hit the cliff we might be able to finally raise taxes so we can actually pay for this stuff.

edit: Also I doubt we'll see serial killers, rapists, and murderers going free unless they get really desperate. Most of the people released will probably be drug addicts and I think they shouldn't serve prison sentences anyway.

edited 27th Dec '12 7:55:11 AM by Kostya


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