Originally Posted by Guest

I think that it starts with the politicians at the top. Instead of simply agreeing that we have differences, politicians attach motives to the other side.

This has been going on for decades and the more it was done, the more the people actually believed what they were saying.

Paul Ryan made a wonderful speech after the police officers were gunned down in Dallas last year. This represents the way that we should be thinking of each other and our opposition.

Here's the speech.



I think that unfortunately most people running for office, don't believe that this kind of attitude will help the get elected and they may be right. When Bob Dole was running against Bill Clinton, he said, "He is not my enemy, he is my opponent." When John McCain ran against President Obama, he said, "We shouldn't be afraid if Obama wins. He's a good man."

Both of these people lost and most candidates who take this kind of attitude toward their opponents also lose.

The problem is that most of the politicians understand that this is just politics and they are friendly afterward. Look at the nice things that President Trump said about Hillary at his inauguration luncheon.

Most of the people actually believe that the opposition party are enemies of the country.

I don't have an answer as to how to stop it. I only fear that it is going to get worse.

We now live in an era where being mean spirited and lying is accepted and that is a prelude to disaster.

Originally Posted by Guest

We now live in an era where being mean spirited and lying is accepted and that is a prelude to disaster.

We now live in an era where being mean spirited and lying is necessary and that is a prelude to disaster.

Fixed your typo...it's beyond acceptable...it's required. Because nobody wants to hear the truth...each group gets a different lie.

Originally Posted by Guest

Good post. Thank you. And I agree that partisanship is probably going to get even worse. I think term limits and laws to reduce the influx of so much money into the electoral process might help.

I couldn't agree more. Right now members of congress are more interested in getting re-elected than doing their jobs. My solution is this.

One nine year term for senators. One six year term for representatives. Replace one third of each house every three years. That gives us a combination of experience and new blood. No person can serve more then one term as representative, one term as senator and two terms as president in their lifetime. Return us to a citizen government.

Originally Posted by Guest

I couldn't agree more. Right now members of congress are more interested in getting re-elected than doing their jobs. My solution is this.

One nine year term for senators. One six year term for representatives. Replace one third of each house every three years. That gives us a combination of experience and new blood. No person can serve more then one term as representative, one term as senator and two terms as president in their lifetime. Return us to a citizen government.

...and how about creating conditions where being in Congress requires hard work and dedication only to the welfare of the nation and not to one's self. For example:

(a) prohibit for life any former member of Congress from taking any employment in post Congressional service that requires lobbying Congress.

(b) prohibit any member of Congress, or any family member of a member of Congress, or any Congressional staffer from accepting any gift, money, meals, service, or travel, beyond a cup of coffee, while serving in office. Necessary travel expenses would be paid from Congressional office budgets.

(c) offer the same employment perks, such as health insurance, retirement pensions, and other allowances, for members of Congress as other career federal employees.

Two more things I was thinking about this morning with regards to the OP's question.

First of all, those on both sides like to point out the extremists on the opposite side and try to make the case that this is the norm for that side.

The democrats are all socialist and want to turn us into a totally socialist or, even worst, communist society. Are there some on that side that believe in this? Of course there are, but they are in the minority. The conservative news media and websites will always show these extremists and try to make the case that they are the base of the party.

The same thing for the other side when they claim that conservatives are all knuckle dragging racists who only want to see big business succeed and the average people be poor. There are probably a few on the extreme right that have this attitude, but it is in no way the middle ground of the republican party.

The other thing is that once an election has taken place, the losing side nitpicks all kinds of ridiculous things that have little or nothing to do with policies that will help us be a better country. Obama is a Muslim, Trump hasn't shown his tax returns. Really? Are these the issues that we should be trying to resolve?

A picture of President Obama bowing to a foreign leader and the fact that President Trump mistakenly said 7/11 when he meant 9/11.

These are absurd issues that can simple be explained by the fact that presidents are human beings and not perfect. Everyone mis-speaks and has mis-steps. People focus on those things simply to try to tear down the other side as opposed to working on real solutions to problems.

Until this kind of nonsense stops, we'll remain partisan and probably become even more partisan.

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I couldn't agree more. Right now members of congress are more interested in getting re-elected than doing their jobs. My solution is this.

One nine year term for senators. One six year term for representatives. Replace one third of each house every three years. That gives us a combination of experience and new blood. No person can serve more then one term as representative, one term as senator and two terms as president in their lifetime. Return us to a citizen government.

Although I've posted my ideas (below) twice previously and months earlier, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt...that you aren't plagiarizing most of what I've proposed.

Originally Posted by Originally posted months ago by CNM

It's time to actually do what the candidates should be doing, but aren't, and that is to propose specific ideas on solving our political problems.

Here, I'll start.

- I say that we should pay a salary that attracts bright people and competes with what they can make in private business. While some people may think that a base of $174,000 a year salary for Senators and Congressman is a fortune, the truth of the matter is that it’s actually very low compared to what even the average bright person can make in the private sector. When you add the additional cost of maintaining two residences (very few of their families follow them to DC), and even with their office allowances, it makes it so tough that Congressman and Senators have been sharing apartments for years. This is the primary reason that we see so many already wealthy candidates running for a nationally elected position. It's certainly NOT for the salary. So let’s make the pay $250,000 per year and with the term limit I suggest below, it will allow someone who might not otherwise think of serving...to do so.

- Another thing that needs to be laid to rest, is the false rumor spread about how Congress is guaranteed this salary for the rest of their lives ( for even one or two terms). This is totally false, but I won’t get into it in depth here. Suffice to say and to try and set the record straight, any retirement/pension they currently receive is similar to other Civil Service/FERS employees and is a function of the number of years (a % for each year) times the number of years of service.

- Regarding term limits, although that's a tough one, something definitely needs to be done. The shorter the term, the more they will be tempted to set something up quickly for themselves for when their term is through or begging for donations for their next election. The way it is now, a Congressman is voted in for only two years. If a person has decided that they want to be more than a one term Congressman, what do you think they’re doing the minute they get sworn in for their term? EXACTLY, they have to immediately start campaigning and looking for donations for their next term! No one with any common sense can fail to see that if a Congressman has another election in two years, they are not concentrating on doing their job and are much more concerned with trying to get more donations. And while Senators are elected for six years, they are almost in the exact same boat and have the exact same goals.

- Given the current situation, there is way too much potential for ingratiating themselves with big business/industries to either get donations or set themselves up for a much better paying job (with the company hiring, hoping that they will use their old DC congressional contacts in their favor) when they get out. Being a current professional politician has shown to have these exact problems. They seem to spend more time trying to get reelected or ingratiating themselves with businesses/industries… than taking care of business.

- So maybe make it a maximum of two consecutive 6 year terms for both Senators and Congressman, so they can concentrate on governing and then they don't have to spend their time campaigning to get reelected, or sucking up to businesses/industries for future employment.

- In other words, I believe lengthening/limiting the terms for Senators and Representatives to two 6 year term, will eliminate a lot of the problems we have now of politicians being in constant "campaign/job seeking mode."

- I also believe that campaign reform along the lines below, will greatly reduce the need for elected officials to "pay back" those who donated a lot of money for them to get elected. Because I don’t care what anyone says, if someone donates a lot of money to your campaign, anyone with a modicum of intelligence knows damned well that candidate will look favorably upon that donor.

Consequently, I suggest:

1. Eliminating all private/business/PAC campaign contributions, except $50 from individuals only.

2. Establish a new tax on businesses that is used for the 'election pot.' And yes, I can hear the screaming now but.....since these same businesses will no longer be able to contribute directly (or through lobbyists/PAC’s), they will probably find that they are actually spending less money.

3. Give each candidate a set amount of campaign money........ and they have to determine how they want to best spend it. If they want to blow it on a few expensive TV ads, so be it. I’m guessing though, they will choose to figure out more cost effective ways to reach out to the voters and let them get to know the candidate better.

4. Limit access of lobbyists to politicians. Much like agents are limited in their access to amateur athletes, the number of lobbyists running around the halls of Congress is not much different than an infestation of cockroaches.

5. Mandate a quarterly report that shows every single lobbyist/interest group/individual that has met with each politician....and any votes made by that politician that could even be obliquely construed as affecting them.

6. All elected officials, at the end of their term, cannot work as ANY type of lobbyist for 6 years. The only reason companies, like large defense contractors hire former legislators, is in the hope that they will still have personal contacts in DC...that will help influence legislation that helps their company/industry.


- It is my opinion that although some will cry about muzzling their 'freedom of speech' (by limiting campaign amounts), if we were to allow smart, dedicated regular citizens (who can't afford it now) be able to run for a public office, we will get back to what was envisioned by the FF’s…which is a 'citizen legislature.'

Instead of the current lifetime occupation of...... 'Politician'….soon followed by ‘Lobbyist.’


OK y’all, instead of the usual 2 or 3 sentence sound bites and personal attacks, quit being so lazy and let’s hear what you think will help solve our current problems.






CNM

The fact that NO ONE answered my two previous posts of this, makes it interesting...that you've finally chosen to pipe up.


Deepest Sincere Wishes:

Originally Posted by Guest

Although I've posted my ideas (below) twice previously and months earlier, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt...that you aren't plagiarizing most of what I've proposed.






The fact that NO ONE answered my two previous posts of this, makes it interesting...that you've finally chosen to pipe up.


Deepest Sincere Wishes:

I've been proposing this solution for many years. In fact, I have to typed out as a word document and simply copy and paste it when I want to post it on a site.

I guess great minds think alike.

Interesting article listing the top 10 reasons America is so partisan now:

The top 10 reasons American politics are so broken - The Washington Post

Originally Posted by Guest

Interesting article listing the top 10 reasons America is so partisan now:

The top 10 reasons American politics are so broken - The Washington Post

I agree. Good linked article.

Originally Posted by Guest

Interesting article listing the top 10 reasons America is so partisan now:

The top 10 reasons American politics are so broken - The Washington Post

It's broken because it's corrupt and full of corrupt people.

Because we have lost the ability to LISTEN. There is a reason we were
given two ears and only one mouth! We can meet in the middle if we give everyone the same respect that we expect ourselves.

Originally Posted by Guest

Because we have lost the ability to LISTEN. There is a reason we were
given two ears and only one mouth! We can meet in the middle if we give everyone the same respect that we expect ourselves.

We've lost the ability to REASON.

There is NO "middle" when you're dealing with different species with different abilities. We keep lowering the standards...they keep failing to meet them.

If they beat "us" in anything, anywhere...I could see including them...but they're NOT. Blacks and Hispanics are ALWAYS at the bottom...so WHY would "we"...who are ALWAYS at the TOP...even consider giving them an equal say in things? They SHOULD shut up and let the white men run things. It's like giving mongoloids an equal say...they're idiots with nothing to add.

When the American public becomes so fed up with the destructive partisanship that currently exists, will those in the political center ultimately form a third party to fight against the problem?

Despite the harsh rhetoric that we see from some posts on TOTV, there are lots of Republicans and Democrats that aren't that far apart on most issues, and are miles away from both extremes.

Originally Posted by Guest

When the American public becomes so fed up with the destructive partisanship that currently exists, will those in the political center ultimately form a third party to fight against the problem?

Despite the harsh rhetoric that we see from some posts on TOTV, there are lots of Republicans and Democrats that aren't that far apart on most issues, and are miles away from both extremes.

You don't get it...it's designed so there can be only the two parties in power. The D and R candidates are automatic on the ballot...they just provide a name and they're on the ballot. EVERYONE else has to jump through a million hoops making it nearly impossible to even get on the ballot...let alone win.

American white men have been beaten into the ground...emasculated...feminized...they won't even put up a fuss as the country is destroyed by the liberals who invited in...and paid...our Hispanic invaders.

Originally Posted by Guest

When the American public becomes so fed up with the destructive partisanship that currently exists, will those in the political center ultimately form a third party to fight against the problem?

Despite the harsh rhetoric that we see from some posts on TOTV, there are lots of Republicans and Democrats that aren't that far apart on most issues, and are miles away from both extremes.

The people on TOTV are no where near what most people I have talked to here in the Villages are like. And I have been here since July 2005 with a few trips to Palm Harbor, FL and the DC area.