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amg503
Lv 7
amg503 asked in Politics & GovernmentGovernment · 1 decade ago

Why Is Congress Always Divided; What Can Be Done About It?

As I type this, I'm watching the House Session of the Oregon State legislature from earlier today (don't ask me why). Most of the bills they're voting on are passing unanimously, or almost unanimously, and they're doing it fast, too.

Obviously, state legislatures are smaller than the national Congress, but why do you honestly think that Congress takes so long to do their job (I'm speaking about every Congress, not just the current one). Should Congress expand and start working 4 days a week? How about 5 days a week?

What should Congress do to agree more, and work faster? No ideas will be denied (unless it calls for outlawing all other political parties.)

Update:

That would be nice, Belen, but it's much easier said than done. Someday, maybe, but right now, there are too many self-serving Congressmen. I feel sorry for the few that actually wish to serve the country, without trying to personally profit.

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I think you hit the nail on the head. Each state can more easily legislate because it is much easier to say what is good for a state than for an entire country. Lobbyists have a great deal of influence nationally but not locally. It is much more difficult to get results of studies done nationwide than for each state. Each state may have different goals in mind.

    Congress is compiled of representatives of each state, however, must also consider the results of laws that influence our international standing.

    Everything in our government has taken on new perspectives since 911 and the effort towards globalization. Actually, terrorism and globalization are in conflict in and of themselves. Our government is first going to have to decide which is going to be their focus and then act. Looking at it from this perspective, the lawmakers are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

    The focus of our government should be what is in the best interest of the American people, but that is being lost in this debate. Fear of future attacks and fear of isolationism are clouding many issues that face our country today. Corporations are having a huge effect on the confusion and chaos that is evident in our government these days.

  • Belen
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    For Congress to agree and work fast, its members should forget about politics and their respective party affiliations. Instead, they should work towards serving the interest of the American people and our country as a whole.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Americans need to studiously and methodically chuck all of the neocons OUT of office, at the ballot box. Until we get rid of enough of those CONservatives, Congress will continue to be a case of CONgress vs. PROgress.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    the only time you may see the 2-party system act in unity will be after a tragic-mind blowing event...and really after the disgraceful way things have gone since 9-11...

    you can bet it will have to be something very shocking to pull these two groups into working in concert..

    personally I feel the way all of the news revolves around what

    gov't desires from us to believe..how they expect us to behave..and given the constant in your face nature of the media...

    the people that really get it..

    don't care one bit about Washington and concentrate on the few things in their lives that really matter to them.

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    We either need a third party or a revolution, or both...

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