Stefanie wrote:

flynn23 wrote:

Stefanie wrote:

flynn23 wrote:
(...blackmail is illegal. as is squandering tax payer money)

In that case, Congress should be arrested.

Maybe you should look in the mirror first.

That's a pretty limp argument. First, I voted against all of those who currently "represent" me in the federal government (see below), so no, when I criticize Congress, I am not looking at myself (politically speaking). Much more often than not, I vote for minor party and independent candidates. Perhaps they represent you more than they do me. Here's your mirror back.

Second, what are you suggesting, that we can't complain about poor decisions made by Congress, just because Senators and House Reps. are members of the general population? Even if I had voted for any of those individuals, I would still be justified in complaining about their actions, without being hypocritical. We're supposed to complain if they screw up... and they have.

Now, if you were to suggest that the people of the U.S.A., on the whole, keep sending back the same representatives that they always complain about, because the people have resigned themselves to a two-party mentality, then I would agree; just don't offer something as intellectually lazy as "look in the mirror." Introspection is certainly healthy, but as citizens, we can't be afraid to criticize our representatives simply because they are us.

2008 TN Ballot
6th Congressional District

President / V.P.
Barack Obama (D)
Joe Biden (D)

Senate
Lamar Alexander (R)
Bob Corker (R)

Congress
Bart Gordon (D)

I was saying all of that. I don't think that simply voting alternative or independent candidates solves the problem. I wish it were that simple.

But what I was more trying to say was that the general populace is no different than the people that they put into office. They all seek to line their pockets. Don't think of the long term nor the common good when making important decisions. And lack the critical thinking and analysis necessary to seek and find real solutions to important problems. Replace they with we. Them with us.

I think it's a passtime to complain and whine. It's what we do best as a society. Because it's easier than making actual change. And until you've walked a mile in that person's shoes, you have no business whining or complaining. Until we start to reject this system and find real alternatives, en masse, then the act of complaining just becomes a post-modern way to make someone else rich, not incite change. Maybe voting alternative candidates changes that, but I doubt it. Change happens within, not from your representative.

RE: Looting AIG