The US State of the Union message for 2011: Thoughts and Commentary

[Tellos Athenaios]

Yes but either way the UK public is receptive to the message of less money now to have some left later, whereas the US one is not. That makes a difference even if on both sides politicians are despised for being self serving and short sighted.

[Xiahou]

Yes but either way the UK public is receptive to the message of less money now to have some left later, whereas the US one is not. That makes a difference even if on both sides politicians are despised for being self serving and short sighted.

Do you have any evidence for that claim?

[Tellos Athenaios]

You might want to read the posts preceding it. USA politicians feathering their nests occurs either way in drone's cynical view of politics: the USA public being receptive of any message is a variable independent of feathering of nests. With what message the politicians feather their nests, however is not.

[Fisherking]

You might want to read the posts preceding it. USA politicians feathering their nests occurs either way in drone's cynical view of politics: the USA public being receptive of any message is a variable independent of feathering of nests. With what message the politicians feather their nests, however is not.

In US politics, I would say he is completely correct. Almost!

The elected Representatives represent who they think got them elected. The moneyed interests who paid for their campaigns. Most of the bills introduced and regulations offered point to this.

Doing something for the public good usually runs counter to their real interests so lip service and evasion are standard tactics.

Meanwhile the public is under the impression that they put them there but they seem to worried about public opinion to act.

Well, that is safer for them than to show their real hand, isn’t it?

[drone]

Congress was able to pass an unpopular bill last year, despite the wailing/gnashing of teeth/cries of socialism by their constituents and media. Balancing the budget is a more worthwhile endeavor, why no progress?

[Fisherking]

Uh, why would they want to limit themselves and their buddies to spending only what they have when they don’t pay for it in the first place?

Eventually the debt will cripple even them but by that time they may care less about it...

They just have an open checkbook and they don’t listen to those who say stop.


edit:You may have elected them as Representatives but they see themselves as your Leaders.

So why should they listen to a bunch of pipsqueaks?

[a completely inoffensive name]

Congress was able to pass an unpopular bill last year, despite the wailing/gnashing of teeth/cries of socialism by their constituents and media. Balancing the budget is a more worthwhile endeavor, why no progress?

That is overly simplified. The public wanted health care reform, only the extremely ideologically blinded can claim that somehow the American system is the best system in the world for taking care of those who live within out borders. When the battle over health care started, the public was enthusiastic about it, it was because of the 24/7 slander, lies and manipulated statistics coming from the Republican side that drove public opinion of it down.

Because we all know that the public disapproved of it because there was clearly death panels in it.

[drone]

That is overly simplified. The public wanted health care reform, only the extremely ideologically blinded can claim that somehow the American system is the best system in the world for taking care of those who live within out borders. When the battle over health care started, the public was enthusiastic about it, it was because of the 24/7 slander, lies and manipulated statistics coming from the Republican side that drove public opinion of it down.

Because we all know that the public disapproved of it because there was clearly death panels in it.

I imagine the public wants a balanced budget, as only the most financially inept can't see the trouble coming without action. And when it comes to the solutions (higher taxes, reduced entitlements), there will be a lot of people complaining about the proposals (hopefully these include death panels, for the lulz). I'm not seeing how the public's reaction will be any different, and this is way more important than health care reform.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I imagine the public wants a balanced budget, as only the most financially inept can't see the trouble coming without action. And when it comes to the solutions (higher taxes, reduced entitlements), there will be a lot of people complaining about the proposals (hopefully these include death panels, for the lulz). I'm not seeing how the public's reaction will be any different, and this is way more important than health care reform.

No, the public claims to want a balanced budget, but their voting habits betray their real feelings. Baby boomers don't want you to change anything, because they want their entitlements. Health care reform reached where statistically more than 1 in 10 people had no health care, at that point, people really do start losing their ****. Right now, no one has really lost anything because we keep borrowing, so all the talk from people is just that, talk.

[Xiahou]

That is overly simplified.

Sort of like glibly blaming "the public" for the national debt.

[a completely inoffensive name]

Sort of like glibly blaming "the public" for the national debt.

Not really considering I have explained why I have said the public is to blame for the national debt.