[QUOTE=Villages Kahuna;219214]Is it any wonder that little has gotten done, or is getting done, in Congress? For one I'm really tiring of the political backbiting and sniping going on in Congress on a daily basis. If something is the other party's idea, it's dumb and awful and I won't vote for it. Those elected by the public continue to try to incite their "base" followers to feel the same. Much the same is evident even in this forum. Only occasionally are there productive discussions of issues. More often, it's more of the partisan mud-throwing.

Why do you feel that it is "party lines" that drive peoples decisions on issues? Many of us draw our opinions from life experiences and "common sense" knowledge. I've known plenty of people that are "learned" folk, but don't possess an iota of common sense.

We are capable of making up our own minds on issues independent of one party or the other. Freedom to choose is not a party line position, but a result of how we as individuals view ourselves and the issues involving our lives. Being fiscally and socially conservative does not make someone Republican, only conservative in nature. Likewise, fiscal and social liberalism doesn't mean a label of Democrat.