Over a longer period of time, you may be right. My assessment of the two political parties and how they spend our money is more the result of the last decade or so, with a particular emphasis on how I expect them to react the the very real and very serious financial crisis faced by this country (not the economic crisis, but the deficit-escalating debt crisis). Will they or won't they actually pass laws to reduce the size and cost of the federal government that is so obviously needed? The Democrats didn't when they had control of the House and my belief is that the Republicans won't either, regardless of what they say and what campaign promises they made, even though they now have every bit as much control as the Democrats did for the last several years.

But having said that the Democrats over a long period of time are for bigger government and more intrusion into people's lives, all I can say is that we elected them.

There's the opportunity to completely turn over the House and one-third of the Senate every two years. As you point out, the Democrats have held the majority for a pretty good proportion of the last several decades. So I guess all that can be concluded is that the people who elected them want bigger government and all the benefits and services that it provides. Some disagree with that for sure, but not enough over a long period of time to change the fundamental tone of our government.

Americans spoke pretty loudly in the 2010 elections. They continue to "speak" in responding to the myriad of polls and surveys done. But even though we've spoken and continue to speak, those that we elected don't seem to be responding. Maybe I'm hoping for too much too soon, but as I've said, I will not be surprised if the House, now under control of a different party with many new members, continues the pattern of spending--and the "big government that implies--in much the same way as their recent predecessors from the opposite party.

You may disagree with how our government has worked as an individual, that's your right in our democracy. But there haven't been enough other Americans with feelings and beliefs like your own to vote to replace those elected to Congress who will actually pass the laws to reduce the role government will play in our lives. Somehow, we continue to elect people to represent us who talk about accomplishing something, but then don't do it.

Then all that's left for us to do is carp about it in the Political Forum on TOTV. What a waste of time!