Would you support random polygraphs of Congress for corruption?

[yurbud]

Politicians, especially on the right, seem to favor drug testing for kids in school and pro jocks.

The same kind of check should be applied to their ethical behavior.

Have a polygraph station set up in the Congress building, and summon representatives and Senators at random, hook them up, and ask them about whether donations effected their votes, lobbyists wrote legislation, or if they received any illegal gifts or money to influence their votes.

The polygraph is a crude and inaccurate instrument, but scientists have come up with one or two approachs to brain scan lie detectors that are impossible to fool.

Put them in that too.

Is this a good idea?

[Orrex]

1. No. Polygraphs are pseudoscience

And they should never be used in ways that suggest that they can divine truth or falsehood.

[soothsayer]

2. well said!

[wtmusic]

5. How about hypnotism then?

Don't be such a party pooper!

[Orrex]

12. Well, that's different

Hypnotize them into believing that they're responsible, law-abiding citizens.

Of course, it's said that you can't hypnotize someone to do something to which they're morally opposed, so good luck in trying to force honesty out of them, hypnotism or otherwise...

[DBoon]

14. or a post-hypnotic suggestion

like "cut taxes on the working poor"?

[yurbud]

15. jumper cables on the nuts have a solid track record--ask Jeff Gannon

[Moochy]

19. What he said

Polygraphs and E-Meters have a similar basis in science.

[leftofthedial]

3. Naw. Give 'em another raise.

and improve their benefits.

and allow them to keep their pensions even after they are convicted of multiple felonies while in office.

[RufusEarl]

4. Of course not, that sounds like a Republican idea

[sendero]

6. Polygraph results..

.. arent' worth the paper they are printed on, and never have been.

The machine measures an emotional response. The response might be to the question itself, or the answer given. There is really no way for the examiner to really know.

[KarenS]

7. I think there should be random drug/acohol testing,,,,,

IRS record checks AND required no stock market holdings while in office,,,, as well as no campaigning while in office,,,, or scheduled vacation/downtime while at War,,,,,

I want workaholics in there NOT sleazy politicians.

[yurbud]

17. and cavity searches (the butt kind)

[Dr Fate]

8. They should all be sworn in under oath at the begining of each session...

And there should be a mandatory sentence of 100 years in maximum security prison, no exceptions, if they are found at trial to have lied under that oath.

[raysr]

9. The Supreme Nominees

need to polygraphed AS THEY SPEAK!

[Double T]

10. Better than a polygraph; we need ALL of Congress to have Term Limits......

so the bastards can't be reelected to 'lifetime appointments'. Two (2) Terms Maximum, then they are OUT!!!!!!!

[yurbud]

18. that's only four years for a congressman and we'd lose Ted Kennedy, and

some other old farts who still make good contributions.

[Double T]

28. Sometimes you have to sacrifice for the GREATER GOOD.........

There can be NO exceptions because you can not have it both ways; we need to STOP the corruption in our governments and Term Limits is part of the answer.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. I would say yes, but only under the following conditions:

a) no warrants
b) no warnings
c) no congressional attorneys or witnesses present
d) everything they say can be used against them - and others, even secretly.
e) a refusal to answer any question is an admission of guilt
f) any equivical or wrong answers will be prosecuted immediately.
g) mandatory sentences of no pensions, 10X fines for the bribes received, 10 yrs minimum in a high risk prison, solitary confinement - ie, barring of all communications with anyone, including counsel or family for the first 3 years. (just like Padilla)
h) waiver of all double jeapardy rules, so if the prosecution screws up, they can try, try again.
i) waiver fo all ex post facto protections. WE get to decide when their acts were illegal after the fact.

Heck, if the president is really taking our rights away (which he is) then congress should be the recipient and beneficiary of his decisions, first and foremost.

[Swamp Rat]

13. No,

but if they are caught committing a crime, they should go to prison for many years (longer than someone who has written a fraudulent check, for example).

While sitting in their jail cells politicians can explain to the other inmates (most of whom are doing 3-10 for a non-violent crimes or drug possession) why they deserve a lighter sentence. Maybe they will convince their cellmates how and why they are better, of a higher caliber, and why only the working class and poor deserve to be brutally punished and tortured.

Lie detector tests, wiretapping, drug tests, etc. are the tools of fascists, despots, and maniacs.

[rucky]

16. Is there a way to hook 'em up to one permanently? n/t

[yurbud]

21. that would be wrong but...

we could hook up the jumper cables every morning in the cloak room.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. I Voted For Torture and Wiretapping

Hey, they're ok with both of those things. Good for the goose, good for the gander. If you've got nothing to hide. . .'
The Professor

[yurbud]

22. exactly

[Hubert Flottz]

23. Anyone running for a federal office should be given one!

In front of the entire country on TV!

[yurbud]

26. an easier fix: screw a webcam and mic into side of their head and

keep the tapes somewhere they can't get at them.

[yurbud]

27. this would be good for presidents too.

[The Whiskey Priest]

24. Yes…the bosses polygraph nearly ever service job today

If it is a good tool to keep teen-age workers from lifting a buck-seventy five hair comb, then think how good it would be to keep the crooks away from billions.

[yurbud]

25. I wonder if there have been court cases on this in the workplace