When you’re less popular than NFL replacement refs, you know there’s issues. Every time I read another story about the 9 percent approval rating for Congress, I begin to do the math on the number of friends and family that each member must have, and extrapolate that out in terms of the poll.
They’re that unpopular because nothing can EVER get done.
A couple weeks ago, Meg and I watched the Ken Burns documentary on Congress. The whole time I’m watching, I’m struck by this sage wisdom being shared by the former journalists and pols alike: If you want to accomplish something within this body, compromise is essential.
It’s almost like the people talking on camera were from another century. OK, bad example, but their experiences and their ways of doing things are most definitely antiquated. How do I know? Because there’s 535 people in power in D.C. who would rather lose a limb than compromise with the other side.
The country and its leadership have grown more hyper-partisan than ever before. Careers have been staked on ensuring opponents do not return.
The problem is that nothing good can happen this way. You end up with a Congress passing fewer and fewer bills, becoming an entirely dysfunctional branch of government.
It makes me sad thinking of the future. No wonder why cockroaches are more popular in the polls.
All of this becomes even more disturbing when you think about the work that needs to be done with the economy, education, and immigration just to name a few issues.
Today’s politicians underestimate their constituents by positioning themselves to never vote against their convictions. I’m more inclined to support politicians voting for the greater good over the party line, even if I don’t always agree with them.
I’ve got to think that the majority of Americans want to see progress, even if it means not getting their way 100 percent of the time. At some point, tackling the sausage’s taste has to become more important than how it’s made.
It’s the only way for our country – and their approval rating – to improve.
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Well put. I want to watch that Ken Burn’s documentary for perspective, but if people ran businesses the way congress works (and I seen a few of them) they would be broke faster than Donald Trump could say “You’re Fired!”. This congress is built on principles… the best Money can buy!
Thanks. There may be a few things still less popular than Congress, but I’m not sure there’s anything quite as dysfunctional! At least on the House side, you could probably make improvements by redistricting without the partisan boundaries (though I’m not sure this will ever happen). The senate I’m pretty sure is just screwed.