Is Congress corrupted and are you tired of it?

Ben Franklin said of congress, "They are of the People, and return again to mix with the People, having no more durable preeminence than the different Grains of Sand in an Hourglass. Such an Assembly cannot easily become dangerous to Liberty. They are the Servants of the People, sent together to do the People's Business, and promote the public Welfare; their Powers must be sufficient, or their Duties cannot be performed. They have no profitable Appointments, but a mere Payment of daily Wages, such as are scarcely equivalent to their Expences; so that, having no Chance for great Places, and enormous Salaries or Pensions, as in some Countries, there is no triguing or bribing for Elections"

What we have today are careerists who have set themselves up to get rich, have a lifetime job with no accountability.

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money. - Alexis de Tocqueville

Until we have term limits we will not be able to eliminate the careerists which do more harm to us than any other enemy.

As Americans we need to do away with the Lobbies that bribe our members of Congress. Most of the Lobbies themselves have their own agendas, which are for the most part not in the best interest of Americans.

A new Washington Post-ABC poll suggests that most Americans (58 percent) believe that the Jack Abramoff affair reflects "widespread corruption in Washington." The President is not immune: 52 percent disapprove of how Bush is handling ethics in government; 45 percent approve. Overwhelming (90 percent), Americans believe that "it should be illegal for lobbyists to give members of Congress gifts, trips or anything else of value." Legally, Congressmen are prohibited from accepting gifts "valued at more than $100 over the course of a calendar year, though the restriction is lightly enforced and easily evaded," as the Abramoff saga suggests. Two-thirds, in an interesting show of bipartisan disgust, believe it should be "illegal for lobbyists to make campaign contributions to members of Congress or to congressional candidates." The survey margin of error is +/- 3 percent.

Until there is true election finance reform (which will probably never happen because those that make the rules have the most to lose) there will always be corruption in government.

True reform would be that no candidate could spend any more money that any other candidate in the same election. That would eliminate the 'buying' of votes and politicians and bring the real issues to the forefront.

Agreed. I am tired of their pork belly spending. Like the Democrats attaching all kinds of wasteful spending the bill to fund the troops. Congress increased the size of government by 40% the last 12 years and it is killing us--our education, slowing our economy. Above all we need Senators like Guilliani who as mayor shrunk the NY govt by 20% and the economy took off.

YES & YES, esp the Democrats since they come In for Change & leave ALL as is before.

Bogus BS games.

Time for YOU & Me to Run for Congress, Joe Voter.

Not Joe Millionaire.

We the grassroots run for office above Mayor.

Think BIG

Revolution 1776.

1790.

The Estd is Corrupt.

NO changes

Dated, old, antique mindsets.

Set in ways.

Need Major Coup here.

Congress has been corrupt since i started following their works when i was about twelve. If you had to come onto YA to ask if congress is corrupted, then you probably have a bright future in politics. consider this your first poll.

The two party system is not going anywhere but it is only going to get uglier for a little while. Hold on to your values with all you got kid. Most reporters go into journalism because they want to make a difference and get the truth to the people. Now look at them.

I'm tired of those socialists in the Congress.

congress just became much much more corrupt and yes, i'm already tired of it.

It is good that you want to take part in politics, just be sure not to fall for the graft and corruptions there in.

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/19007