"Dissatisfaction with both political parties runs deep." LA Times

[kentuck]

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rutten6-2010feb06,0,1034960.column

<snip>

It has been more than four decades since the Congress of the United States has been able to summon the will to pass a major piece of social legislation. Not since 1965, when Medicare and the Voting Rights Act both overcame decades of opposition to become law, has Congress proved itself up to the task.

Significant healthcare reform is all but dead for this session, and the chances of substantively addressing the regulatory breakdown that allowed Wall Street's irresponsible speculation to precipitate the worst global financial crisis since the Depression seem to recede with each passing day. So too the prospects for passage of further stimulus measures to remedy the crisis of unemployment and underemployment that continues to ravage the lives of families in states from Michigan to California.

In the face of these daunting issues, what was it that preoccupied the Senate on the eve of its long weekend recess? The legislative drama du jour is the standoff between the White House and Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.), who has put a personal hold on more than 70 executive branch appointments until the Obama administration agrees to fund a couple of pork-barrel projects he has earmarked for his state. One involves tens of millions of dollars for an FBI laboratory focusing on improvised explosives -- something the bureau doesn't think it needs. The other involves contract specifications for an aerial tanker that Northrop Grumman and Airbus would manufacture in Alabama, if they win the deal. (Boeing also is competing for the plane, which it would build in Topeka, Kan., and Seattle.)

Unless the administration agrees to give Shelby what he wants, he intends to invoke an archaic senatorial privilege that allows him to prevent the chamber from considering any of the administration's nominees to executive branch vacancies, no matter how crucial. Without the 60 votes to force cloture -- another archaic convention -- there's nothing the Democrats or the White House can do.

Outside the Senate, Shelby's conduct would be called extortion; inside the chamber, it's a "parliamentary tactic."

....more

[AllentownJake]

1. Which is the thing I tell every single "conservative" I know

What in reality do you think you are getting when you vote Republican. Their response is to parrot what I say except use the word democrat. Than we nod and go back to bowling.

[polichick]

2. Our country is in big trouble if there is no action that can be taken against someone like Shelby. n

[AllentownJake]

4. Ever read about the Polish Republic of the 14th-18th centuries

Most advanced and richest country in mainland Europe of the time.

Doesn't have a happy ending.

[polichick]

Can't say that I have, but I can imagine. :(

[AllentownJake]

8. Essentially

any member of their legislative body had the power to stop legislation. Before they fell, there was no substantial legislation for 100 years.

[polichick]

9. Thanks. I don't think it'll take us that long. nt

[DJ13]

3. Kabuki

The elites have us just where they want us, so their paid representatives in Congress deliberately paralyze the legislative ability to pass anything that might help put our country back on track to improve things for everyone else.

The theater of the absurd, brought to us by corporate america.

[kentuck]

7. Bingo!

And the Democratic Party is incapable of doing anything about it. They are bought. What's the solution??

[Ardent15]

13. The solution, unfortunately, is something that won't happen for a long time

Public financing of campaigns is the number one thing.

[athenasatanjesus]

5. At least the democrat has to lie to be ineffective

Republicans are ineffective merely by being honest about their policies.

[kentuck]

10. You mean....

like they are the Party of fiscal discipline? Or like they are the best folks to protect our nation from terrorists? Or that they will balance the budget? And on and on...

[kentuck]

6. The tea-baggers have the right premise....

they just have the wrong ideas. In my opinion.

[AllentownJake]

11. There is no centralilzed idea to the Tea Parties

Other than federal government bad.

The past 10 years have demonstrated the total failure of the government to do anything positive for its citizens and perfectly justified everything the right wing has to say (Ironic 8 years of the abuses were done under their chosen one)

The past 10 years have demonstrated the total failure of business to regulate itself and behave in any semblance of an ethical manner, fully justifying the left (which is amazing with the number of former hippies and leftist running E-suites).

[kentuck]

12. Exactly!

And they are right in their premise that the government is "bad". They are just wrong on why and how the government is "bad". Democrats do not believe government to be bad, generally speaking, but they do recognize when it is not working for the people.

[AllentownJake]

14. Which is the problem right now

People on the left are pissed at what the business world has been doing since 1980. People on the right are pissed at what the government has been doing since around 1980.

What neither group is seeing, is they are the same people.

[Ardent15]

15. Corporations have become the government

Isn't there a word for that, that starts with an F and is an "ism"?

[AllentownJake]

17. Let me see

rampant militarism (check)
declining civil liberties (check)
population communicating in meaningless propaganda (check)
One party system (almost there)
Business and governmental interest fully merged (check)
Privatization of government assets to political supporters (big fucking check)

[kentuck]

18. I agree Jake.

Both sides are getting screwed by the same people and are accusing each other of being stupid.

[AllentownJake]

20. The system is screwing both of us

You can be the most noble person in the world, get elected or appointed you suddenly have a huge new group of friends and a huge upside to not doing the right thing.

There are few human beings that last long to temptation in that scenario.

[athenasatanjesus]

19. neither group ???

The left has always understood this in nuance and that they are both together in this,the left is not in favor of big government and have always understood government corruption we are in favor of utilizing government to best serve the majority of people which the right trivializes as the left being in favor of big government.

[kentuck]

22. And that is where propaganda enters the equation...

2 + 2 = must equal 5

[dfgrbac]

16. Eliminate the filibuster rule now!

Democrats may never get another opportunity to eliminate this ridiculous rule if the Republicans regain power. Playing by this rule is like trying to box with one hand tied behind your back. It is one of the biggest obstacles to progress.

[Marr]

21. We're watching our own government slowly take on the flavor of the

corrupt governments they foisted on South and Central American countries for a 100 years. It isn't surprising that the trend really started ramping up as the Soviet Union declined, either.

With no further need to even put up a sales pitch for western power, all of the things we call social advancements were sure to be chipped away to nothing. "Where else are you gonna go, chump?", seems to be the emerging theme of the century.

[OHdem10]

23. Since the Democratic Party has just become a kinder gentler Republican

Party, it is no wonder a lot of people are disgusted
with both parties.

[AllentownJake]

24. They aren't really that kinder or gentler

Unless you are speaking from one street in Manhattan

[kentuck]

26. But they talk kinder and gentler...

:-) When was the last time they did something for the people?

The two best things that I could think of right now to maybe put us back on the right track would be to reform campaign financing and to end the wars and bring our troops home. The defense industries are robbing us blind. We can't afford them anymore. We need to take care of our own people.

[AllentownJake]

27. yeah a choice is being made between continued bigger defense budgets

and Social Security. I'll give you a hint, Social Security doesn't stand a chance.

[kentuck]

25. Who Will Tell The People?

by William Greider.

Where is the Leader that will organize the people against the establishment? We need someone much smarter than tea-baggers.

[AllentownJake]

28. At this point in history

They would either be killed or paid off. Not ready till things go boom.

[jaysunb]

30. Bingo !

couldn't have said it better. :thumbsup:

[CANDO]

29. Ask a conservative how they create and maintain a vast, prosperous middle class.

If they are intelligent and honest, they can't give you an answer. They are against every single policy that forms the foundation of it. Do they support a minimum wage? No. How about collective bargaining in a union? No. Progressive taxation so the people who can afford it, pay more? No. Retirement, pensions, Social Security? If they had it the way they want it, you are totally on your own. Same for health care. On your own if they had their say so.