I am losing faith in all parts of our government.

[kentuck]

We, the taxpayers, give the banks trillions of dollars to save their asses, yet, we cannot get healthcare for our people. The same folks that got us into this mess are now leading our government. Did Barack Obama actually choose Tim Geithner for Secretary of the Treasury? Or did someone else choose Geithner for Obama?

It has now been over a year since the banks collapsed and we have no regulations on them at all. In fact, they are back to their old games and making more money than ever. Wall Street is drinking champagne and celebrating huge profits and bonuses, even as millions and millions of workers are unemployed, with no hope in sight.

The politicians, that we vote into office, do nothing. Their religion is money. If they have the money, they can cling to their offices forever. Money supersedes all issues related to the welfare of the people. They cannot refuse any campaign funds, from anyone. Special interests control everything.

I had a lot of hope with the election of Barack Obama, but now, I am losing even that. He appears to believe more in the money principle than the people principle, it seems. Even Barney Frank, whom I have respected for many years, has done nothing on his Committee. He too, seems to be tied to the special interests? There is no one left to trust in government.

[derby378]

1. Hey, I'm still waiting for torture prosecutions, myself

I think you and I have to take a number and get in a really long line. But I hear you.

I want to believe that Obama is going to do the right thing in the end. But I'm not holding my breath.

[ChiciB1]

7. As Each Week & Days Go By... THE LIST IS GETTING LONGER!! Watching

Dylan Ratigan who calls them Corporate Communists is pointing to THIS problem every day!! Glad to see him calling them out, but THEY just don't care! I FIRMLY believe that, the BIG ASS HOLES just want the money they keep getting and sit on their thrones with their crowns and sneer at "we the people!"

I lost so much HOPE during BFEE, but can't seem to get much enthusiasm going for Obama AND his Administration these days. Making all the speeches that keep people "thinking" he's taking the bull by the horns, is really wearing thin!!

I say DO SOMETHING, quit with the SPEECHES ALREADY!!

If I have to eat my words regarding this, I will do so GLADLY, but for right now... I'm eating beans!

Just heard that BOA & Citi Group will soon start charging GOOD CUSTOMERS extra fees because they say they CAN'T make enough money these days, yet they keep paying out GINORMOUS CEO Pay Checks!

Glad I only have ONE card and I switched to my Credit Union. But even they are raising my rate from 8.5% to 8.999%. I can live with that because I don't use my card much... But it sure would be NICE if EVERYONE would just stop using their cards, but I KNOW that's impossible with this economy, and too many people are already in over their heads!

My sister-in-law (and this is HER fault) just filed credit card bankruptcy because she was unable to make payment on her FIVE credit cards. Totally over $12,000.00! And she lives alone!

I had to help her through the process because she basically didn't know where to start at all! I'm just glad I've used my card sparingly! I will keep the one I have, just in case of something... but the balance stays low!!

[Greyhound]

44. Just as we said from 2006 on, if the Democrats let them get out of the Whitehouse intact,

we'll never see any justice.

Somebody, please prove me wrong.

[Captain Hilts]

2. The primaries went centrist too quickly. The Prez trashes progressives and equates them with right

wing cranks, and has us guessing where he is on the spectrum.

Why WHY would he trash progressives in front of NYC Dems??????

[havocmom]

3. Oh, look, some pol is talking about ACORN!!1! It's series!!!

Huh? Um.... what were you sayin?

The government isn't the only group I'm losing faith in. Human nature seems to be sinking to the lowest common denominator (and IQ). That cave I found is looking more appealing all the time x(

[Barack_America]

4. I'm happy for the most serious discussion about health care we've had in 15 years.

But frustrated we can't seem to tackle more than one problem at a time.

For now my faith in this govt. is riding on the public option and repeal of the anti-trust exemption.

[joeycola]

8. Nothing was serious about the discussion when Single payer was kicked

under the table without giving advocates time for discussion. It was shameful.

[Barack_America]

14. Still the most serious discussion we've had in a long time.

Though the argument that it is not a very serious discussion is still a valid one.

[ChiciB1]

10. And From What I Hear... This Won't Go Into Affect UNTIL 2013!! I Did

hear "something" that "something" would be sooner, but I've forgotten what it is!

This is a CRIME, and I "betcha" the Public Option will come with "triggers" too!

JMHO!!
:shrug:

[sui generis]

5. Best part of all:

It's 873 Billion over ten years? And we're spending 70 billion a year in Iraq alone.

Who is bitching about the cost? Kellogg Root and Brown, probably. Stop feeding the war machine and start taking care of Americans in America.

Obama. lead. The loss of faith comes from expecting leadership and finding a sloppy consensus process instead.

Note to Obama and Baucus: Healthcare is for the people not for the insurance companies. Fix health care, not health coverage.

[TomClash]

6. Amen, brother

[FarCenter]

9. The government is working as designed

First, divide power between the federal government and 50 state governments.

Next, divide power between the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch.

Also divide the legislative branch into two houses, with differing representation, elctoral terms, and rules of procedure.

Finally, group the politicians into two parties, each captured by and answering to a collection of special interests.


What did you expect to happen?

[closeupready]

12. We were expecting "change we can believe in", but I guess according to you that was naive.

n/t

[FarCenter]

24. Campaigning and governing are two different things

[closeupready]

37. Copout city, huh? Can't blame you. He hasn't given his supporters much to cheerlead about.

But it's only been 9 months. He'll need 20 years, at this rate, to actually do something - in between all these magical speeches he loves giving. :eyes:

Sorry if I'm really negative - I really am that close to just giving up. Nothing personal against you.

Cheers. :hi: :)

[closeupready]

11. I agree. As I said before, if we don't get a strong public option, I'm out.

By that I mean, you won't see me posting here anymore, because I will no longer vote Democratic, and I may just give up on voting altogether (let alone, I won't give a dime or a second to any other political person or race or party). It doesn't seem to make any difference at all - I know the rhetoric is technically different, but the outcome always seems identical. Meet the new boss - same as the old boss.

I am being 100% serious.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

13. Interesting question - who do you trust in government?

Currently ( the list is constantly changing as new betrayals or pleasant surprises surface almost daily)

I trust: Howard Dean (I know he's not currently in government, but I predict a BIG comeback)
Dennis Kucinich (award for consistency even tho I don't agree with him all the time)
Alan Grayson
Weiner
Joe Biden
The Congressional Progressive Caucus
Russ Feingold (strangely invisible of late)
Henry Waxman (loosing ground with me lately)
John Kerry (making a comeback with me after me being angry with him for YEARS for not fighting the Ohio results)
Al Franken
Jim Webb
Barbara Boxer
Hillary Clinton
Sheldon Whitehouse
Jack Reed
Patrick Leahy
Bernie Sanders

I tend to like
Byron Dorgin
Thom Harkin

Pelosi is regaining my trust - healthcare will be the decision maker

People I no longer trust as much as I used to:
President Obama
John Conyers -(big blowhard with no follow through)
Chuck Schumer (weaseliness on Public Option)
Chris Dodd
Barney Frank
Harry Reid - actually I never thought he was a strong Majority Leader and he seems to prove it every day


People I loathe and can't see out of office soon enough
Every single Republican no exceptions. Even Snow and Collins are sell-outs
Joe Leiberman
Every Blue Dog (Evan Bayh - blecchhh!)
Dianne Feinstein

As far as Cabinet choices, I found them all unexciting (except for Hillary and possibly Solis) or worse, inexplicable

[closeupready]

15. I completely agree with your list, except Biden who sponsored "Bankruptcy Reform", a piece of shit

legislation. Can never forgive him for that, no matter what.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

17. Good point. I had forgotten about that.

I think it's because Delaware is the big banking credit card state where many are incorporated. Not that that excuses that travesty of a bill. Now that healthcare has opened my eyes to the actual "sausage making" of legislation, I find it a miracle that anything passes at all. Congress needs to be aware that we have all had the scales ripped from our eyes( I never really understood that phrase - what scales?) and now understand to what extant our government is essentially a giant influence peddling operation.

I have a funny reason for liking Biden and most of it has to do with his personal story. I loved his commuting back to Delaware everyday to raise his kids and I also like he seems to have been one of the least successful in turning his long time in the Senate into personal lucre. I think he does have some real integrity. I even like his "gaffes".

[closeupready]

18. I confess that if it hadn't been for that bankruptcy bill, I would love him for all the other stuff

he's done. But that alone, when combined with the economic misery going on now, has undoubtedly made life much worse for many Americans.

Sad that people make compromises like that, but he did.

But I understand why so many like him. Aside from that, he's been a consummate liberal Democrat.

:hi:

[Statistical]

22. Scales fell from his eyes = expression of seeing for the first time.

Seeing through a con, or a scam.

It comes from the Bible

http://bible.cc/acts/9-18.htm

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

28. Well, I know the meaning - as you can see I used it correctly

but the term "scales" was never clear to me. But your link was very helpful and I appreciate it. "as though scales" were in front of his eyes, etc. Much clearer.

[liam_laddie]

30. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH

:bounce: As a buckeye, I feel obliged to add his name for your consideration. I agree with your list as posted.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

33. An oversight - Absolutely he should be on the list of the good guys. nt

[AngryOldDem]

16. You're not alone.

Some days, I feel that this nation is totally beyond hope.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. As citizens, we're not supposed to trust our government.

They have been put into office to be our servants, not our masters. Something that most of them forget as soon as they meet their first lobbyist.

"From such beginnings of governments, what could be expected, but a continual system of war and extortion?" Thomas Paine

"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." Thomas Paine

[ipaint]

20. The root of the problem is people trust them. n/t

[harmonicon]

21. what else is new? (nt)

[The2ndWheel]

23. We, the taxpayers, aren't doing a damn thing

other than paying our taxes. We're not tax allocators.

[datasuspect]

25. can someone provide a list of ANY bush regime-era initiatives that the Obama administration

has rescinded, rolled-back, cancelled, repudiated, or eliminated?

[PeaceNikki]

42. Sure - here it is

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

[Eliminate_Capital]

26. I lost complete faith awhile ago.

welcome to the club.

[Eliminate_Capital]

27. Abolishing

money would solve most of the problems, that the general public faces today.

[FiveGoodMen]

39. Except for keeping track of who gets what

[Johonny]

29. I hate to agree but I kinda do

I've heard Frank time and time again talk about what he's going to do regulation wise but the time table on his actions keep slipping. I credit Frank for getting his message to the public but at some point he has to get his ideas to the floor of congress for a vote.

[Mari333]

31. I lost faith decades ago

[Winterblues]

32. How old are you, and you are just now realizing this?

Talk is very cheap and politicians are experts at it. Actions though take courage.. Nader was actually pretty close when he said there is very little difference between the Parties.. They each talk a different talk but it pretty much ends there.

[kentuck]

34. Why the insult?

:shrug:

[Winterblues]

40. Didn't mean to be insulting....

Was just trying for snark.. Sorry no offense intended....

[kentuck]

41. No problem...

I just seem to have a thin skin here lately for some odd reason...

[Orwellian_Ghost]

35. As you should

You are taking a positive step. The government is not there to represent you. It never has been. It is there to legitimize the primacy of the ruling class. Though the style and functionality may vary this government is here to oppress you like the others.

Your realization should be applauded. However it is also the case that just as such realizations occur the master will often throw a bone temporarily bringing the flock back to the irrational expectations. this can go on for years as the system manipulates the populace. Don't take that bait.

K&R

[kentuck]

36. I try to think rationally...

If we can give them trillions of dollars and then, we cannot go to a doctor if we get sick, the class war is over. They won.

[closeupready]

38. I love this post.

Wish I could recommend it. :)

[CrispyQ]

43. I didn't have much hope before he was elected & now I have even less.

Obama's done some good things, no doubt, but not anything close to what needs to be done. I realize it's early in his term, but the trajectory's not looking good. I'm sick of his fucking feel good speeches & his fucking bipartisanship. Why do we want to work with the very party that was largely responsible for the clusterfuck we're in now? :banghead:

Obama has until November 2012 to fulfill my pony list:

1) Dick Cheney needs to be investigated for war crimes.
2) Health care for all - not insurance for all, but health care for all.
3) Real action toward combating climate change.