....I'm no fan of George Bush (I admit that), however, I'm also tired of a Congress that seems unable to work together. All parties are to blame, but I wonder if the American people can do something to change this - like write letters or emails to government officials. What is your opinion - are the only times the voters can influence the government only at election times....or is there more we can do throughout every year to force changes? Thanks.
2007-09-15 09:38:35 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Government
They're all friggin ego-maniacs, ALL OF THEM, they're politicians they're all from the same mold. Overprivlaged rich people who make decisions for us. We can change it as people of this country. But we wont. We're too afraid. Were too busy complaining to do anything. All we do is sit and say they're wrong, he's wrong, she's wrong. No one does a thing.
2007-09-15 09:48:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We could change things if we knew our power. Both parties are corrupt, both are more or less devoted to concentrating wealth and power, staying in office at any cost. If we expected more we'd get more.
But both parties, and primarily the Republicans, are expert in polarizing us, setting us against each other so that we don't see who's really destroying the country. Look at all the issues that divide us and keep our minds off how badly the country is actually being run!
I say it's primarily the Republicans who are doing this because it's the minority party that stands to gain from these 'weapons of mass distraction'. The only way they can win is to get their 'base' all pissed off so they get down to the polls in greater numbers.
They also benefit from people getting so frustrated and disgusted with politics that they don't vote at all. If you look at poll results for the last 30 years or so, you see that the smaller the turnout is at the polls, the better the Republicans do.
Governments -can- be influenced by phone calls and e-mails, and by things coming out in the media that they hoped to keep secret. This happens all the time. Senator and congressmen will change their position on an issue 180 degrees if they learn that it's one their constituency feels strongly about and they're afraid people will remember it in the next election. Of course they never -admit- they've done this. Once they change they insist they felt this way all along.
And I suspect there's been a lot of this going on lately with Bush's extremely low popularity figures. The Republicans running for president in 2008 are going to have a hard time trying to stay off the subject of President Bush and the spectacular failures of his presidency.
2007-09-15 10:04:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We must take responsibility for the state of things and not just complain. Read more, encourage others to take an interest in current events, learn about candidates.
don't be satisfied with where nominees or candidates stand on abortion or gay marriage and feel that we have done our job.
Where do they stand on the Law of the Sea Treaty, Immigration, Amnesty, NAFTA Super highway, North American Union. Make them answer.
The questions asked should tell us where they intend to take the government. Do they support the Constitution? Will they guarantee us our religious freedoms, will they encourage ROTC at colleges that receive tax dollars, promote English as the official language of the United States?
These are closer to what we need to know, rather than who is a Mormon and who is not?
2007-09-15 09:56:04 · answer #3 · answered by eileen4330 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We can influence things all the time, with letters and phone calls and petitions, as you point out. However, the only time we have a LOT of influence is at election time, at which time we can throw the bums out if they don't make the grade. Technically, we can have a recall election of almost anybody in government, but that's a major task, and seldom happens.
2007-09-15 09:43:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Citizens rose up and convinced Congress to drop the immigration amnesty bill. Our voices were heard. Send emails and write letters to your elected representatives. Your message does get through. It may not amount to anything. If a senator gets dozens of letters in favor of one position and dozens opposed to the position, half the people will be disappointed.
2007-09-15 09:54:16 · answer #5 · answered by regerugged 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to support candidates who make campaign reform a major issue. John McCain tried that back in 2000 but was railroaded by the Republican Party, who already had it in their minds to anoint GWB as the GOP nominee. If you don't take big money out of the election process, e-mails, letters, or any other medium of persuasion will be futile.
2007-09-15 09:43:48 · answer #6 · answered by hansblix222 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Politicians from the President down want to get reelected. That is the weapon the public has. Presidents who are not allowed to be elected want to make a mark in history
2007-09-15 11:59:07 · answer #7 · answered by DrIG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call your representatives' offices...you won't get to talk to them of course, but they actually get far fewer calls than you might think and if enough people call and tell them to end the war (for example), they will listen if they want to keep their job.
2007-09-15 11:46:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vote independent in 08 and you will see both the dems and repubs start kissing our feet.
2007-09-15 09:44:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont think letters will help. Just vote when the time comes.
2007-09-15 09:42:32 · answer #10 · answered by midnitrondavu 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋