WTF is Wrong with the Democratic Party?
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 12/17/09 @ 4:07 am - Filed Under Featured, National Politics
The national democratic party is a goddamn disaster. I officially broke ranks last year when they decided it was good policy to support one of the most unpopular Republican presidents of all time in his last ditch effort to steal $750 Billion of taxpayers money and hand it to a bunch of Wall Street crooks, gamblers and morons.
Not to mention that Clinton-era “free trade” policies have led to millions and millions of job losses but are routinely supported by the Democratic party. They’ve also decided that continuing to kill a bunch of brown people hiding in caves is worth bankrupting the country over as well as watching thousands of our young people die.
Yet their idiocy seems to know no bounds. Now they’ve decided that the best way to tackle health care “reform” is to force everyone in the country to hand over their hard-earned money to a government-sponsored monopoly of private insurers - corporate communism at its finest. And if you have good insurance they will force you to pay an excise tax driving your cost up and your coverage down - brilliant!
They could’ve nixed the excise tax and passed the drug re-importation bill but no, as usual, they decided to jump into bed (did they ever leave?) with the pharmaceutical companies and continue to subsidize the rest of the world’s drugs while we can’t afford our own.
I have been a lifelong Democrat but this is no longer my Democratic party. This national party has become a grotesque albatross that needs to be put out of its misery. They are bought and paid for by every major corporate lobbying group in America. Their entire mission now seems to be to see how much money they can loot from taxpayers and transfer to their masters.
There are some good ones left and I wish them well but the rest have lost their way. As the adage goes:
In order to save the party, it became necessary to destroy it
Sadly, that appears the only option. It’s quite unfortunate that the opposition party is intellectually-bankrupt and generally beholden to a bunch of nut-jobs. Either way you go the ship is sinking fast…
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30 Responses to “WTF is Wrong with the Democratic Party?”
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Jeff,
Wow.
I was certain that you were very upset based on the complete failure of the Democratic Party to get anything done, even though they have had majorities in Congress for three years.
I knew you were very upset with President Obama over the last 11 months as well; he has been abysmal.
I agree the Democrats proved to be terrible leaders and have got almost nothing done; even with super majorities in the House and Senate.
I have some failures to add to your list:
1. The Bush era Patriot Act is still in place and is still being used to illegally spy on Americans.
2. President Obama promised to close Gitmo within one year. Now he has admitted that he cannot fulfill that promise. President Obama needs to learn that he is the most powerful man in the world and that if he really wants something done he can likely get it done.
3. The Bush Administration was secretive. President Obama blasted that on the campaign trail. Now that President Obama is in office his Administration is almost as secretive as his predecessor was.
4. The Obama Administration has taken a completely unsupportable stance on the Federal Reserve. A growing number of Americans and members of Congress support an outside audit of the Federal Reserve. The Obama Administration, after touting open Government; has taken the wrong stance and of course opposes auditing the
Federal Reserve.
5. The Congress and the Obama Administration have spent trillions of dollars saving the financial sector and have not implemented any meaningful financial reforms. This should have been their number two priority after the economy (and jobs). Instead they have encourages the Federal agencies (FHA, Fannie, Freddie) to make even more bad loans in order to spur “consumer spending.” This makes no sense in the long run and needs to be stopped.
Mike
I think the same criticisms can be applied to the Republican party as well. I’ve always thought of myself as a Republican until recently. But is there a reasonable alternative? Not that I can see. Both parties propagate wars we don’t need and can’t afford. Both parties increase the size of our “limited” government. Both parties spend money we don’t have on programs we don’t want. And when a candidate emerges that promotes true change and a return to constitutional fundamentals, the people are either too brainwashed or scared to vote for them. So bomb and spend away, you two-headed monster! The sooner the wheels fall off the bus, the sooner we can try again.
While I disagree with some of Jeff’s conclusions,I have never been as concerned for the future of our Republic as I am now!! I do believe there are just and necessary wars-without the US actions over the past 60 years we would be rebelling against Communism at home and probably forced to speak Chinese(don’t forget that we pushed them out of Korea before they could take all of Asia) .I abhor the escalating takeover of the auto industry,the semi-legal appointment of czars with no real work experience,attempts to run the financial industry,and now trying to set up the road to a government control of the health industry and all the while spending us into oblivion,hyper inflation or worse. The psuedo-democrat ultra liberals have seized on the election of Obamamessiah as a mandate to implement all their pent-up liberal/big government-one world schemes but have discovered that it is not easy to pull it off even though running deficits of $1.5+ trillion.
Unfortunately there are too many so-called Republicans who have joined the “feeding at the public trough” frenzy and abandoned the principles of Eisenhower/Reagan/etc. There is no such thing as “spending your way to prosperity” but when we are approaching 50% of our population who either pay no taxes or get government support programs such as welfare and food stamps where will we find the voters to throw the rascals out and go back to the principles on which this Country was formed? I hope I am wrong but I fear greatly for the future of our children and grandchildren as well as the future of the USA and freedom as we have always known it !! end of rant
Where is Knuth in all this? I expect him to chime in on how the Democratic Party is better and stronger than ever….
Jer, who was that candidate who promoted “true change?”
I was referring to Paul of course. End the wars, fiscal responsibility, less government instead of more. That’s real change. Blowing up folks in Afghanistan instead of Iraq and unlimited spending on social handouts instead of corporate pandering is not real change.
Jeff,
I hate to say it, but welcome to the club. I thought I was a republican for decades, but over the yeas they have messed things up just as bad as democrats. I saw some time ago where more Americans now think of themselves as independents than republican and democrats combined.
The money they spend is taxpayers, not the governments. For too long they have used our money to buy votes to get elected using our own money. None in congress can just say no!
This next election needs to be a removal of every single incumbant. That would send a clear message. Vote for the challenger! I guess I need to wake up from my dream.
Has the answer ever been more obvious? Larsen for Congress 2010.
If someone is buying votes, where’s my money? To think I’ve voted for free all this time.
If we voted out every single incumbent, within five years we would be driving horse-drawn buggies, shoveling coal into a furnace, and reading by kerosene light. Can you imagine a House of 435 Phil Troyers or Montaganos? There are some that need to go, but let’s not throw the baby (Pence) out with the bathwater (Souder).
Mr. Green Jeans, I will not be running again, though I would like to do so. I always said I would continue to run until I die. I did not count on two off duty police officers choking me unconscious. Their unlawful act, violating my civil rights and aggravating existing injuries sustained in the Navy have made it impossible for me to run a campaign, let alone participate in a debate. There is no way for me to represent the people at this time, though I would probably do better than most who are there now. I am just physically unable to do it.
Keith Cumtwa writes “If we voted out every single incumbent, within five years we would be driving horse-drawn buggies, shoveling coal into a furnace, and reading by kerosene light.”
Keith, what do these 535 members of congress know that we the people do not? Most are lawyers and know little about energy, finance, health, military and more. They know how to make laws that benefit, not the people they represent, but the parties they are beholden to. Most of all they have no idea of how to handle the taxpayers money.
The proposal to extend Medicare to those 55 to 65 was STUPID! MEDICARE cannot pay its own way now and they want to add more. The goal of reform is to increase competition. It is not the insurance companies that do not compete with one another, but rather it is the provider who is billing the insurance companies. Medicare reimburses 94% of costs. This means providers are losing money covering seniors and they pass on the cost plus lost profit to everyone else(insurance companies). Then they want to cover pre-existing conditions. Sounds good, but who pays the cost of adding this? They want seniors and young to pay the same rate of insurance, yet the risk factor of a person over 65 is eight times that of the young. How do you compete with a government mandate that increases costs?
Social Security was passed in 1935 began in 1937 and it is in worse shape today.
Medicare was passed in 1965 and it has larger liabilities than in 1965.
National Debt in 1957 was $271 billion today it is over $12 Trillion. In every year since 1957, the national debt was higher at years end. Not one single surplus in 52 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What you are implying is that the common person is dumber and more incompetent that those in office. This means the incompetent are hiring the competent. How does an incompetent person have the knowledge or no how to do this?
“There are some that need to go, but let’s not throw the baby (Pence) out with the bathwater (Souder).” I like Pence, but the fact remains there are far more Souder’s then Pence’s and nothing will ever get done unless all in congress are reduced to the lowest common denominator and that is no one has more seniority than anyone else. A new congress would have no “beholding” to lobbyists.
Do I think this will happen? I did say at the end “Vote for the challenger! I guess I need to wake up from my dream.”
This country has no idea how bad things are. Congress reports the deficit for 2009 was $1.4 Trillion, when in fact the treasury reports it as $1.91 Trillion. Social Security, my pet pieve, it is broke and anyone who thinks they are going to get back what they put in is totally wrong. Ever hear of Bernie Madof? People put in over $60 billion and where did it go? Some made huge gains and cashed out. The same is with SS. Those born prior to 1938 have gotten up to 20 times what the US Treasury rate paid SS on the bonds it issued. How do you pay a higher rate of return to retirees than what the trust fund earns?
Mr. Larsen, I am not implying that the average person is dumber than your typical congressman. However, there is a learning curve. If we sent 435 Larsens or Cumtwas to Congress, we would spend the first 6 months figuring out the computers, phones, where to get lunch, and how to find our way around Washington, D.C. You think that Mark Souder or Nancy Pelosi or whoever has not picked up a thing or two about legislating in the decades they’ve been in Congress? There’s zero learning curve? It’s one thing to write down Social Security and put a red circle and a line through it, its another to write a comprehensive bill that actually does that and get it out of committee. You stick Thomas Jefferson in Washington today and its going to take him a few years to get up and running. We can’t and we shouldn’t throw everybody out, that’s crazy talk.
It won’t take 6 months to learn all that:
Computers: Already using one.
Phone: I can bring my own.
Lunch: Yellow pages
Finding your way around DC: GPS
I am going to agree with Keith on this.
Our system is not perfect- not even close. So you have TWO choices:
1. Fool yourself into thinking you can change the system
or
2. Work within the existing system to get the best results you can.
This applies to all levels of government.
Does any post exemplify more clearly why Enders should not be allowed anywhere near the decision-making process?
There is value in incumbency, there is a learning curve, its not just GPS and yellow pages. DC is not a simple network and representation entails more than the ability to say NO. Good representatives need to think about how and what will impact their districts in a positive or negative way. Good representatives need to have principle but not constantly fall on their sword every time the word principle is used. There are issues worth spending every bullet you have over and issues that surviving to fight another day is the better part of valor. Those that would conjur up a French Revolution are no less reckless than those that think piling debt upon debt is the way to create economic prosperity in our country.
Term limits of 4 terms in the house and 2 terms in the senate would solve an awful lot of problems wouldn’t it?
Keith,
I’m not the one who needs 6 months to learn how to use a computer.
And I’m not the one who decided to share political signs with another candidate who had the same first name as me.
Enders first needs to learn how to file campaign finance reports on time, if at all. If I recall correctly, Enders was fined by the Indiana Election Board for failure to file his reports when he last ran for state rep.
For pure entertainment purposes, I am going to admit that I would be glued to the TV Set if there was a new reality show called “Mr. Enders Goes To Washington”. I am just being honest. Watching Mr. Enders and his libertarian staffers bust their way through the DC power elite would be must see viewing.
Today we have 535 representatives who are in deep to their special constitutents. They do not know how or do not care to give up these special ties. In so doing we have grown the boundaries of what is percieved to be government authority. Just look at healthcare, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Education, college grants, and more. Everyone of these programs is recent. These are not a obligation of the federal government.
If you had 535 new people, they would not know how to pass this kind of crap. As for getting rid of Social Security, it is simple, just as Congress repealed the Catastrophic Healthcare Bill over two decades ago, they can do the same with SS, the SS-act states specifically congress reserves the right to alter, change or repeal the SS act at any time. Just write a bill - The Social Security act of 1935 and its subsequent amendments are now hearby repealed. Now vote on this simple and plain language - yes, no.
If we think it takes knowledge how to get bills passed, then we are truly hosed. How many make decisions to buy a home, car, which college to go to. We make choices and decisions every day. It is a simple task, vote yes or vote no. If you do not like the bill, attempt to get it changed. The healthcare bill is a fine example of buying votes with taxpayers money. Nebraska, Vermont and several other states are being bought. This to me is illegal. It is bribing a senator to vote for something they would not otherwise.
We are so hosed.
Mark A
You recall incorrectly. I was not fined. It was a paperwork error that happened three years ago. Meanwhile the GOP added another digit to the national debt clock. If that concerns you, and you think that you’re better qualified than me to run an opposition party, you’re more than welcome to join LPAC and try to take over as chair.
Keith wrote “You think that Mark Souder or Nancy Pelosi or whoever has not picked up a thing or two about legislating in the decades they’ve been in Congress? There’s zero learning ”
I think this is the problem. We have too many who know too well how to game the system. Now if we had 535 new member, they would be novices and have to learn. It is amazing how many problems are solved when people start from scratch, having to LEARN how things should be done, not how they are done. Need to take the blinders off some times and look around.
As for zero learning, how did they learn? Did they see how others did it and followed their lead only to be the leaders of the newly elected? The problem is these leaders are not good role models for how bills should be passed.
Maybe the better model is a bill that contains only that which are the same. Do not mix and match different agencies or agendas within a bill. Makes it easier to vote on, no arm twisting or buying votes. Vote on the bill alone.
My question is, when did it become corrupted?
Yes, Larsen, that’s the problem. They are too good at what they do. Here are some real life examples from Larsen-land.
Hello Doctor. What? You’ve done this surgery 1,000 times before? I’m sorry, do you have anybody who has never done this surgery? I would feel better if they were starting from scratch.
Thanks, Michael Jordan, for your offer to play on my pickup basketball team. However, I’m really looking for someone who has never played basketball before. It’s amazing how good can you play basketball when you’re starting from scratch.
As Mike Sylvester would say, good grief.
Hello Doctor. What? You’ve performed 1,000 operations, but never cured anyone? I’d prefer a different doc, but Keith might want to be your patient.
FWIW, The individual legislator and their level of “experience” probably is not that big of a deal considering the size of their staffs.
As an example, Souder has a staff of 19 to 20 with an annual payroll of just under $1 mil per year. While his name is on the office and he makes the appearances and casts the votes, all the legislative “sausage making” is performed by the high dollar staffers. You could put Mickey Mouse in the seat and you’ll have the same result.
And for those of you that haven’t thought about costs, and want to be really appalled from a financial standpoint, take 535 legislators times about $1 mil per staff per year….
That (roughly) $535 million annually is just for support staff, then add in the legislators salary, the (net) cost of all of their healthcare, the cost of the buildings used by staff, the transportation, the office expenses (printing, cell phones, cars, paper clips etc. and the dollar amount is staggering. ANNUALLY.
The legislative body of our government has morphed into a behemoth the founding fathers could never have envisioned. What was once meant to be a short term “duty” of ordinary citizens to serve and keep checks and balances on government is now a career with benefits lasting decades and beyond.
I think maybe I’m ok with some “inexperienced” candidates, honestly, what the hell have we got to lose??
By the way, I forgot to cite:
http://www.legistorm.com/salaries.html
Take a cruise through there with a calculator that has a tape, if you dare.
Tim-
Great post! Very informative!
(it hurt to admit that, just so you know….)
Kevin,
You probably should’ve just stopped at #1. Nothing is ever changed within the system - at least nothing substantial.
Kevin, if the system cannot be changed, why don’t those who wish to improve healthcare simply get jobs in the healthcare industry? In the time that Congress is taking to pass the bill, they all could have become CNAs and EMTs. Instead of trying to change the system, shouldn’t they be working within the system to get better results?
Keith;
Hello Doctor. What? You’ve done this surgery 1,000 times before? I’m sorry, do you have anybody who has never done this surgery? I would feel better if they were starting from scratch.
Thanks, Michael Jordan, for your offer to play on my pickup basketball team. However, I’m really looking for someone who has never played basketball before. It’s amazing how good can you play basketball when you’re starting from scratch.
…………………..
How many times has congress fooled with Healthcare? How many times has it failed?
How many of the elected representatives have read the bill they are voting on?
How many times have they attempted to fix SS, 36 times and it is still broke.
How many times have they attemtped to open YUCCA mountain, Obama has killed it.
How many times has tried to balance the budget? Since 1958 they never have.
How many things has cogress done more than once? It seems to me they are always picking up some banter and taking it forward without thought. Under ideal situations, the congress should have very few new bills to vote on. They should have yearly mundane things like budget, but creating new agencies or tackling non federal responsibilities should be absolutely zero.
They should have more than enough time to read every bill if they did not travel off the federal path.