Real health care reform will never pass because

[SoCalDem]

It's a cart-before-the-horse issue.

Before we ever get real reform and real health care, the legislators must be UNCOUPLED from the Money-Train (aka campaign booty).

Contrary to what they like to tell us all every few years, they do NOT represent us. They represent their money-guys.

They all know that the vicissitudes of the general public pretty much guarantee that they cannot count on us "always loving them" enough to keep sending them enough money to keep their status and their jobs. The money-guys always have ONE THING on their agenda, and it's easy to understand.. They want laws that allow them to make MONEY..and lots of it..no matter how much pollution they create, or how many outsourced jobs they have to create, or how much chaos they create for the country and/or world. Their goal is MONEY, and so is the goal of almost every politician in DC.

There are a few who seem motivated to "do good", but they are the few..not the many.

Freed from the constant "need" to raise money for the next campaign, there are probably many senators and congresspeople who would vote very differently, but they have to check their conscience at the door, because they know the only constant source of big-bucks is in the corporate world, so they do what they have to to raise the money.

Lobbying by any entity that is not a non-profit needs to GO..and be made a punishable offense.

We have created an endless loop of lunacy.

Legislators must beg for money to pay for their campaigns, then give that money to corporate media giants , who torture us endlessly with the lame commercials they run, and once elected, the legislators then begin the endless cycle of "payback" to their corporate masters, so they will keep giving them money for next time.

As long as we have legalized political prostitution, where everyone's vote is for sale to the highest bidder, we (the little people) will never have a chance at anything even remotely approaching fair legislation for the good of all.

Given the choice of the girl next door, and the $5,000 hooker, our legislators (most of them) choose the hooker. The girl next door wants loyalty, respect, faithfulness & love...The hooker is all about money & special favors...and of course she always says yes.

[yourout]

1. I still think it has to happen state by state.....Kucinich is right.

The system is to corrupt right now for anything useful to come out of Washington. And it is very likely that anything that would come out in the mad rush to sign something will be worse than doing nothing at all.

[Andy823]

2. I agree 100%

The problem is getting that money out of their pockets and putting a stop to any further "buying" of members of congress! I to think there are some members of congress that want to do what is right, but like you I think they are few and far between. The big problem is that in order to get the money out of politics, those same members of congress have to make new laws to put and end to it, and they don't seem to ready to do that! Getting new people into congress is a goo idea, but as long as the money keeps flowing, it won't be long before many new members become just a corrupt as the ones voted out!

I really wish there was a way to put a stop to it without having to rely on the corrupt members to cut their own influx of corporation money, because I really don't think it will happen! Maybe if we got some leadership on the senate that could push through such changes we might have a chance, but how do we replace those in charge now, and who do we get that would do a good job?

[timeforpeace]

3. ...because this POS will be law and real reform will be forgotten.

[BeFree]

4. sure

You think HCR is hard to do? Do you think cutting off the gravy train contributions is gonna be easier?

What we need is a whole new congress. One that uses the internet for meetings and one that has 5 times as many members.

Everybody says that we are not well represented, well, get more representatives, then. Now one rep for 600,000 citizens. 5 times as many reps would be one rep for 120,000. Much better.

[SoCalDem]

6. I've thought that for ages.. We NEED more legislators

and no district should be huge.

There's no reason why every district can't be figured based on zip code.. the post office figured out how to break things down by population..and the chips can fall where they may. If a dem district goes repub, there will surely be repub districts that flip as well..

and I'd even like to see a 3rd senator for each state, that way 1/3 of the senate would be up ever 2 years.

Also we need term limits...badly..

My plan has always been pretty straight-forward
senate

2 6-year terms maximum

house

2 4-year terms maximum

*NO PENSION BENEFITS until 20 years service (house/senate combined)

a person could serve 12 years in the senate and 8 years in the house (20 years)

20 years is PLENTY.. and there are MANY MANY good people around who could and would be deserving public servants..

By forcing them to serve in both houses of congress, I think they would be better legislators, and there would be a real turn-over..

[BeFree]

8. yeah, of course

It is amazing how the idea of more reps is like a lead balloon here.

But it is the most simple, most pro-democracy move would could make.

But I tell ya, the top 2% won't let it happen. Not without a huge fight. So, are we gonna continue to let the top 2% rule us?

[sharesunited]

5. A wise man leading a triceratops over the sand dunes? Fascinating yuletide imagery!

[SoCalDem]

7. the perfect card for the creationists, eh?

:rofl:

[TwilightGardener]

9. I agree--they're all just dancing with the ones what brung 'em.

[SoCalDem]

10. and after today, they will have to put extensions on their pockets

the moolah will be rolling in now..