Americans haven’t been pleased by the political shenanigans they’ve seen in the down-to-the-wire talks over raising the federal debt limit.
Half of those surveyed in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll say President Obama and Congress are doing a worse job than their predecessors in dealing with problems. Four in 10 call it the worst they’ve seen in their lifetimes. Thirty-four percent say current politicians are doing about as well as their predecessors; 13% say they’re doing better.
At least two-thirds say that congressional Republicans and Democrats are putting their political interests ahead of the country’s good. Just 7% see both sides as negotiating in good faith.
At least two-thirds say that congressional Republicans and Democrats are putting their political interests ahead of the country’s good. Just 7% see both sides as negotiating in good faith.
Ya think?
With some fear and trembling, I note Machiavelli’s observations about how a weak populace is part and parcel of any “leadership deficit,” and this unfortunately gives rise to the ruthless “Prince” he envisions. He sees the Prince as necessary to restore the virtues of a degraged people.
I think about this often when our politicial discourse is taken up with “Gay Marriage” while fiscal collapse threatens; when very few people can describe the competing deficit plans but most can relate the intricacies of the Casey Anthony trial; when young people can’t find Georgia or Gambia on a map but follow Lady Gaga’s tweets.
The thing is the populace doesn’t WANT to be weak and seems to be desperate for change but that is increasingly impossible to accomplish with the way our system now operates.
Can a person of average means who is blessed with intelligence, common sense and integrity, is independent of Party and corporate baggage, and has good ideas get elected to Congress? Frankly, no. It takes a huge amount of money, political pedigree, notoriety, grooming, physical attractiveness and corporate cash. IF a no-name newcomer wins the primary, he or she is beholden to all sorts of special interests and/or is mired in campaign debt.
So, what do we do when our choices are only “more of the same with a different tailor?”
I bluntly told our congressman via email that Democrats and Republicans are going to have to cooperate and come up with something which is workable, otherwise this country is going to go into default and lose our credit rating. That would be disastrous for all of us.
I never got an answer…..about as I expected, of course. So, is it any wonder that our Tea Party Movement is so demanding of reform? What on earth do our politicos expect, for heaven’s sake?
[i]The thing is the populace doesn’t WANT to be weak and seems to be desperate for change [/i]
And which part of the populice might that be? It must be pretty much a sliver, because I think the description #2 gave constitutes a pretty broad swath of American citizens [and non citizens?]
#5 — So, you really think that the majority of Americans are happy with the direction in which our economy and country are going? Those that are don’t want change; those that aren’t do. Post No. 2 describes a disillusioned and defeated people but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t favor change if it is possible and there is hope.
I think post number two describes much of our national ethos currently. We want change, but we don’t want consequences. We are therefore, in my view, by definition a “weak populace”. So, Teatime 2, I don’t think Americans are happy about our economy and the direction of the country – but no one is willing to see cuts in entitlements and other programs, raising of taxes, etc. – unless those cuts or raises only affect some other group. We are, indeed, weak.
I’vew been a Republican for a long time – but no more. Nothing would make me a Democrat, so I am in independent. The Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot – or higher. Why? Why? Why this passion for protecting the unspeakably rich? Larry
Nobody deserves a tax credit……nobody! No more loopholes and no more favoritism! Stop this infighting and get the job done!
Larry, the unspeakable rich pay most of the income tax now, the top 10% of income earners pay about 80% of the money taken in in income taxes. About 50% of the population pays no income tax. People think the rich have an endless supply of money and patience to be tax at the discretion of the untaxed. We have to look no further than John Kerry’s yacht to find that the rich will try to avoid taxes as well. The only program, as far as I can see that the Democrats have come up with is increase taxes. What happens when the wealthy and corporations, tired of being demonized and being tax targets leave? Unprincipled Larry, the unspeakable rich pay most of the income tax now, the top 10% of income earners pay about 80% of the money taken in in income taxes. About 50% of the population pays no income tax. People think the rich have an endless supply of money and patience to be tax at the discretion of the untaxed. We have to look no further than John Kerry’s yacht to find that the rich will try to avoid taxes as well. The only program, as far as I can see that the Democrats have come up with is increase taxes. What happens when the wealthy and corporations, tired of being demonized and being tax targets leave? I don’t trust Obama any further than I could throw him. He lied about his mother’s health insurance. He lied about not having money to pay social security checks if a debt increase isn’t passed. He was stupid enough to tell us he was bluffing when he said “Don’t call my Bluff”. Obama has proven he is ungrounded in reality in his no higher that 8% unemployment if we pass the “stimulus package” and when he said he would close Gitmo in a year, and we will hold terrorist trials in New York etc. Name one federal program Obama has offered to cut. Obama has done nothing about confronting the debt and budget until a short time ago. Now Obama wants to act like the adult in the room while he lies and tries to bully. Obama has ignored his own commission on debt reduction and balancing the budget. Then the Democrats turn around and demonize Ryan and his plan and play the wealth envy card. The Democrats have not had a budget in over 2 years and Obama’s budget could not even pass a Democratic controlled Senate (it was defeated 97 to 3). I feel sorry for the people that have to try to negotiate with Obama, I think he is completely unprincipled.
Sorry I missed deleting some of my post that should have been deleted oh well
Cennydd13- Even the 50% that pay no income tax and what about those that get earned income tax credit?
Ah, [i]the unspeakably rich[/i], take their money they don’t deserve it or need it!
What gives you the right?
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. My wife and I pay income tax on our Social Security benefits, and we think that’s fair. I have no idea of how many recipients don’t pay, but I assume the number is considerable. As for the earned income tax credit……………
9. Actually, I was referring to corporate tax breaks.
Larry-The unspeakable rich pay most of the Income tax collected. The top 10% of income earner pay 80% of the income tax revenue!
Uh, yes, but that’s because the top tier controls most of the country’s wealth. If the middle and lower classes saw their incomes increasing, then they would be paying more in taxes but that’s not happening. We’ve got the very rich, the very poor, and the incredibly shrinking middle.
And if those who earn the most (and whose companies accepted bailouts) aren’t expanding their enterprises in THIS country, thereby creating more business and jobs (and more taxpayers in higher brackets to share the burden), then why should they get tax breaks? They’re sitting on their profits and assets and paying taxes on that which they can’t write off. Well, that’s just the way it goes. I certainly don’t feel sorry for them. What they pay is still a drop in the bucket compared to what they earn.
Teatiime2- That has always been true. In the 70’s I read a book called the rich and the Super Rich about how 10% of the population controled 90% of the wealth. I thought WOW that really needs to change. I then read an article in the Reader’s Digest about how yes there are the rich and the super rich but in America the people at the top tier keep changing. Where was Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, or Winfrey 60 year ago? What we are going to do is put regulations and taxes in place and have it controlled by government to the point where innovations becomes more difficult and wealth stagnates in the hands of the rich. The fellows that started Home Depot say they couldn’t do it today. In their rise to wealth they have made over a thousand peole millionaires.
Teatime2-What you earn is a drop in the bucket compared to what poor people that live in the garbage dumps of Mexico earn-Does that give them a RIGHT to take your money? I don’t feel sorry for the wealth you have compared to the poor of the earth, niether does thier earning less give them a right to your wealth to solve thier problems. I don’t feel sorry for the Rich but they should not be made targets and smeared because they produced. The sin of envy and covating should not be used in political brinkmanship. I think everybody should have some skin in the game.
Teatime2- The reason these people arn’t expanding is because they are afraid. jPeole that run business arn’t sure how the tax structure and Obama ccare is going to affect thier bottom line. Why expand when the poeople that you need to hire are going to shove you into the red with new taxes and regulations? This very discussion we are having is helping to creat that uncertanity about business costs. What does it hurt to tax a business a little more? Well the luxury tax on yachts actually destroyed the New England luxury yacht industry destroyed jobs and businesses.
DaveB, I have no control over the economy/government of Mexico or what people earn there. Regardless, I’m sure our government sends plenty of monetary assistance to Mexico. Perhaps that needs to stop.
Secondly, you’re talking about the rich “producing.” I’m sorry but many of these wealthy individuals produced nothing but shady portfolios that they sold off to others under false pretenses and made their money on “speculation,” which has driven oil prices higher for everyone. THEN, when it bites them in the butt, they turn around and beg the government for bailouts while continuing to spend like drunken sailors and give their CEOs bonuses.
That’s how the greatest amount of wealth is being made in this country. They can take great risks that directly affect the economy and the lives of the “little people” and walk away from their messes still wealthy and unaffected. Meanwhile, those who DO have sound ideas and want to “produce” can’t get loans to start companies and raise their expectations because the wealthy, top-tier players won’t lend.
I don’t see what a luxury tax on yachts has to do with anything. All sorts of items are taxed and people choose whether to purchase. The rich simply chose not to buy their yachts, even though they could likely still afford them (and write off the expense if they used them for business in any way). Plus, I’ll bet the Congressional representatives for the districts in which these “luxury yacht” manufacturers reside went hats in hand to Congress asking for subsidies or bailouts for their “luxury yacht” constituents and scored some pork-barrel spending. That’s the way the game is played.
If you are wealthy and/or connected, you have the ears of Washington. It is a symbiotic relationship — the weathy and connected fund the political campaigns and the newly elected or re-elected politicians will return the favors. The corporate welfare is new but the wealthy have been buying favorable policies for a very long time. Those who haven’t benefitted apparently backed the wrong candidates.
Teatime2 Please cite some sources for a blanket statement like “I’m sorry but many of these wealthy individuals produced nothing but shady portfolios that they sold off to others under false pretenses and made their money on “speculation,— What percent of the wealthy became wealthy that way? I know of many wealthy people who like the founders Home Depot, Walmart, Micro Soft etc put in many hours and much labor to produce their wealth. The 1000 millionaires that spun off of Home Depot working as cashiers etc didn’t sell shady portfolios. Pray tell what shady portfolios did Winfrey, Bill Gate or Warren Buffet sell? It is very easy to cast asperitions on the rich as villians in a morality play. If you don’t like the garbage pickers in Mexico go to the inner city in America, they eat well but you are still far wealtherier than they are.. It is much differant to confront the reality that many wealthy got there by hard work. It is easy to cast the mantel of villiany on them forget that they are God’s creation as you paint them with a broad brush..It is also easier to spend other peoples money..
It appears that I disagree with a big chunk of Americans, if the results of this poll are accurate.
I don’t think there’s a leadership deficit. Indeed there are plenty of leaders out there. Obama himself is leading just fine.
Fact is, the various leaders simply don’t have the same political foundational worldview as one another — indeed their worldviews are antithetical and mutually opposed.
One side of leaders has a very different set of values and beliefs about the role of the State, private property, the free market, the Constitution, and central planning then the other side of leaders.
The only solution is for one side to overwhelmingly win the various elections over the other side.
Then there will not be the stalemate.
I agree with Tim Fountain, in that essentially Americans are getting precisely what they are electing. We are — in broad swathes — who are leaders are. We can hardly complain when they lead in response to their own values and foundational worldviews.
Personally I think the current “debt limit” drama is way way over-inflated, rather like the OJ chase down the highway was.
We won’t default on our loans, unless the current crop of leaders *decides* to default on our loans. There is plenty of revenue to service the debt, pay Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security, pay the defense budget, and have several billion left over.
So what will happen in regards to all of that will be whatever it is that our current leadership decides it will be.
Thankfully we live in a constitutional Republic and if the people decide that some different leadership in a different direction should take place, I’m sure we’ll vote in that way in less than two years.
We’ll see — pass the popcorn!