If Congress is so bad why?

Wow - how much time do you have? They do very little good, they insert ridiculous spending provisions into bills that have nothing to do with their proposal, they listen to lobbyists more than their constituents, they are forever in campaign mode rather than "work and solve problems" mode. That is just a starter.

People tend to like their individual representatives but dislike Congress as a whole.

As an example, Nancy Pelosi represents a district in the San Franciso Bay area, which is very liberal. She will be tough to beat in her own district. Even though most Americans dislike, she only has to worry about being on the same page w/ her consitituents.

Apply this throughout the country and you have a lot of people that unhappy w/ Congress but support their own representative. Therefore, the same idiots keep coming back.

It is simply because people are gullible. They believe these politicians when they promise all milk and honey for their local constituents. Should it not be the first interest of all to protect the good of the United States. What many think is good for their own little world may not best for the nation as a whole. Basically what they are saying is give me my piece of the pie and let others have to pay for their piece. Incidentally, not a damn one of the politicians live up to their promise of milk and honey anyway. Look at Obama, he promised to lower taxes, improve education, and reduce the size of government. He has increased taxes (new tax on cigaretts), increased the size of government (45 Czars) and done nothing about education. All of this with the majority of congress going blindly along with him like the sheep they are. Every member of congress campaigned with the very same promises.

VOTE THEM OUT Term limits is our only salvation.

The great disadvantage of pure democracy is that it is government through committee. Pure democracy (every citizen votes on every issue) can't work for pure reasons of time-to-solve-issue.

So, the smaller the governing body is, the more effectively it can respond to issues - but the less representational it is of the people. The most effective government (dictator) is therefore virtually never representational of the people.

So you look for a tenuous compromise.

Thing is - in Congress, you've got thousands of different interests trying to make one decision. So yeah, your guy is standing up for your state and your interests, and he's doing a fine job of that, but he is one of a very large number of people who end up doing something against your interest.

So you like your guy and you hate everyone else's guy.

This is why the good congressmen are ones who can work with others, some times doing things that aren't totally in the best interest of their electorate, but are in the best interests of the country.

The issue comes up because of how good Ted Kennedy was at working through complex issues, frequently doing things that he wouldn't have done if he was the only one making the decision. He could bring the parties like none-other while still wholly representing his electorate (the people of the State of Massachusetts).

The lesser congressmen are well liked by their electorate, but can't get anything done because they can't see the big picture.

No, Congress is one of the branches of our government.

The polls on Congress are cloudy. Some disapprove because they are liberal and others disapprove for the opposite reason.

When you poll opinion on the Democrats in Congress you get a higher approval than for Republicans in Congress.

People also approve of their own Senators and Representatives - the disapproval is for other peoples Congress members.

It's not a very valuable statistic.

"In general, is your opinion of the Democrats in Congress favorable or not favorable?"

-------------------Favorable Not Favorable Unsure

7/24-28/09------- 47 -----------------42 ----------------11

"In general, is your opinion of the Republicans in Congress favorable or not favorable?"

------------------Favorable Not Favorable Unsure

7/24-28/09--------28 -----------------61 ---------11

Because it's a measurement of Congress as a whole. People love the bacon brought home to their own district, but it's pork when it's sent anywhere else.

Good plan. Problem is they are from districts that really like the bacon they bring back.

Which leads us to the federal government.... that is a slaughter house for the bacon of bankruptcy.

Nothing will change. Wishful thinking and that "hopey changey" thing will be our end. the dollar will go bust.

I say vote every person out of the House except Ron Paul. He is the ONLY advocate of liberty in Washington. Make him speaker. Then vote out every Senator up for reelection.

That is what I keep saying. People do not really get involved in politics but complain. That is crazy, for now america has spoken and we should back our leaders as the revolutionary war has been over for more than 200 years.

If you disagree with your Representative, and don't want to pay for postage... https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml and tell them about it