Ted Cruz proposes method of getting rid of Ted Cruz

[CountDeMoney]

One of the reasons I'm not so optimistic about politicians is the mere nature of the thing. Just going into that field as a life goal tells everyone things about a person that aren't exactly good. Everyone has the impulse to try to control others. For the purpose of civilization, we resist most of that.

But politics is something beyond the inability to control it. These are the people who weren't satisfied running the local nazi homeowner's association or bullying the school board. They needed to go big.

Maybe we get the occasional Jimmy Stewart in office, but mostly not.

I disagree;  people enter and succeed in politics because, regardless of their bent, they sincerely believe they are attempting to do good.  Yeah, they need egos, and they have them, but the true sociopaths and Bond villains are much more successful in other industries.

[Razgovory]

One of the reasons I'm not so optimistic about politicians is the mere nature of the thing. Just going into that field as a life goal tells everyone things about a person that aren't exactly good. Everyone has the impulse to try to control others. For the purpose of civilization, we resist most of that.

But politics is something beyond the inability to control it. These are the people who weren't satisfied running the local nazi homeowner's association or bullying the school board. They needed to go big.

Maybe we get the occasional Jimmy Stewart in office, but mostly not.

We have plenty of Jimmy Stewarts, and it doesn't improve things.

[crazy canuck]

One of the reasons I'm not so optimistic about politicians is the mere nature of the thing. Just going into that field as a life goal tells everyone things about a person that aren't exactly good. Everyone has the impulse to try to control others. For the purpose of civilization, we resist most of that.

But politics is something beyond the inability to control it. These are the people who weren't satisfied running the local nazi homeowner's association or bullying the school board. They needed to go big.

Maybe we get the occasional Jimmy Stewart in office, but mostly not.

This is perhaps the best indication of how much things have changed within US political discourse.

[Jacob]

senators and congressmen

He's a foreigner, man.

Are those supposed to be capitalized?

[Jacob]

This is perhaps the best indication of how much things have changed within US political discourse.

Yeah. If that's the general view held by many or even most reasonable people then it's hard to see a path to actually improving things; at least as long as that persists.

[CountDeMoney]

Are those supposed to be capitalized?

Senators and representatives are both congressmen.  It's a bicameral thingy.
Granted, representatives represent congressional districts, but they're still technically representatives.

[Jacob]

Are those supposed to be capitalized?

Senators and representatives are both congressmen.  It's a bicameral thingy.
Granted, representatives represent congressional districts, but they're still technically representatives.

I was vaguely aware of this distinction but since grumbler had "Senators and Congressmen" in the post I replied to, I assumed it was the correct usage.

[CountDeMoney]

I was vaguely aware of this distinction but since grumbler had "Senators and Congressmen" in the post I replied to, I assumed it was the correct usage.

I know.  I am disappointed in him, too.

[Eddie Teach]

Term limits increase the total number of Congressmen walking the earth over time.  The more ex-Congressmen there are, the more lobbyists there will be.

I don't think so; there will always be as many lobbyists as corporations/pacs/etc are willing to pay for. More ex-Congress members just means those jobs will be harder to get.

[grumbler]

senators and congressmen

  I don't get it.

[grumbler]

Are those supposed to be capitalized?

Senators and representatives are both congressmen.  It's a bicameral thingy.
Granted, representatives represent congressional districts, but they're still technically representatives.

I was vaguely aware of this distinction but since grumbler had "Senators and Congressmen" in the post I replied to, I assumed it was the correct usage.

Senators and congressmen is the correct terminology. Senators and representatives is equally correct, though much more rare.  They shouldn't be capitalized except when part of a proper name (I erroneously capitalize those words all the time). 

[grumbler]

Term limits increase the total number of Congressmen walking the earth over time.  The more ex-Congressmen there are, the more lobbyists there will be.

I don't think so; there will always be as many lobbyists as corporations/pacs/etc are willing to pay for. More ex-Congress members just means those jobs will be harder to get.

And those jobs will pay a lot less, since there will be more ex-congressmen to fill them.

[Eddie Teach]

There are plenty of people doing them now who have never been in Congress. I would imagine the pay rates are tied in with other corporate jobs and won't be drastically affected by the number of ex-congressmen seeking them.

[DGuller]

This is perhaps the best indication of how much things have changed within US political discourse.

Yeah. If that's the general view held by many or even most reasonable people then it's hard to see a path to actually improving things; at least as long as that persists.

Agreed.   

I guess this attitude has a lot to do with anti-government propaganda the right wing has embarked on ever since Reagan.  While corruption obviously is there, the effects of it on effective governance is what has been blown all out of proportion.  What really destroys effective governance is when the people who buy into this schpiel hook and sinker and elect suicide bombers into the government.

[Razgovory]

Term limits increase the total number of Congressmen walking the earth over time.  The more ex-Congressmen there are, the more lobbyists there will be.

I don't think so; there will always be as many lobbyists as corporations/pacs/etc are willing to pay for. More ex-Congress members just means those jobs will be harder to get.

And those jobs will pay a lot less, since there will be more ex-congressmen to fill them.

Oh, you were serious.  Let me laugh a little harder.       I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  Cynics are some of the most naive people in the world.  In Missouri, we have term limits, and the average pay of a lobbyist is well over 2 times that of a Senator.