From: cdm@pmafire.inel.gov (Dale Cook)
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 92 14:33:52 GMT
Organization: WINCO
Subject: Re: Quayle on abortion
Summary: 
Followup-To: 
Organization: WINCO
Keywords: 

In article <mykes.0d78@amiga0.SF-Bay.ORG> mykes@amiga0.SF-Bay.ORG (Mike Schwartz) writes:
>In article <1992Aug28.185900.6768@umbc3.umbc.edu> alex@engr3.umbc.edu (alex) writes:
>> In article <1854@celia.UUCP>, steve@celia.UUCP (Steve Tyree) writes:
>>
>> |>  The entire [political] system is rigged. 
>>
>> 	[You can vote 'em out]
>
>No, we've seen the congressional franking priviledge abused over and over
>again.  Fact:  the amount of money congress is spending on mail this year
>is 2x higher than last year.  Campaign related, I say.  And a huge benefit
>for the incumbent.
>
What has this got to do with anything, other than it is a waste of money?
The garbage I receive from my reps is is laughable.  I just recently got
a "survey" from my rep, with three choices to mark about a certain issue.
Choice 1 amounted to "I agree with you on issue X, tell me how I can help".
Choice 2 was "I agree with you, but can't help".  Choice 3 was "I'm an
idiotic communist facist and disagree with you".  He wasn't after opinion,
he was after recruits.  He's already formulated his opinion and doesn't
care what the electorate thinks.  He's part of the problem on issue X, not
the solution.  No, the problem isn't the fact that the congresscritters
push this stuff, the problem is the people who BELIEVE it.  The problem is
with people who don't bother to find out what their reps are doing, who
don't communicate with them, who demand that everyone's services but their
own get cut.  No, I'd say the general population is getting exactly what
they bargained for.

>> |>  Do you honestly think the people would have allowed government to go
>> |> into such tremendous debt if they had direct control over the money
>> |> the government was stealing from them ?
>>
>> 	Yes. Most people in this country are quite happy with their reps,
>> although they don't like congress as a whole. While most of the country
>> is displeased with the government debt, those same people would be even
>> more displeased if they were forced to fork out more taxes or lose the
>> services that are the source of the debt. Again, what they want is to
>> take away other people services while preserving their own.
>
>Yeah?  So what?  What are you going to do about it?  People are already
>dumping plenty of those congress critters you say they like.  A record
>year this year for turnover.

Sounds like he gets out and votes.  Sounds like he is informed.  Don't
know if he writes his rep on issues.  I do all of those things.  What do
you do?  I think it was Sen. Hatch from Utah who recently remarked that
he gets all of 3 or 4 letters on any given issue.  Who do you think he's
going to listen to?  A voting public that doesn't even bother to take the
time to drop a postcard in the mail saying "Yes/No on issue X", or the
lobbies who take a real interest?

Yes, people are dumping their reps this year in record amounts.  They are
frustrated, and the house banking scandal was a major catalyst for many
reps to not even bother to run.  One issue.  Big deal.  Until people
start voting with their heads, nothing will change.  Oh, and BTW, "staying
informed" doesn't mean getting your "facts" from the media, either (Limbaugh
included).

Until we get a president who is willing to attempt the line item veto,
these pork programs will continue.  The chances are getting better that
it will succeed, given the makeup of the Supreme Court.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
...Dale Cook    "Quayle doesn't inhale (which explains a LOT)."
                   ---William Hsu
The opinions are mine only (i.e., they are NOT my employer's)
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