How do we force congressmen and senators to be more productive?

[apples and oranges]

I know there are some great exceptions, but for the most part, they work very few hours a week, get humongous pay checks, health care, vacation, the works. All we ask is that they accomplish something for us once in a while.

How do we force them to be productive? Should we cut their pay? Enforce strict work hours? Set term limits? How do we reduce the partisanship so that good bills pass, no matter who proposes them?

[Wilms]

1. Force out the DLC.

:shrug:

[Tatiana]

2. Primary them. Either they will wake up and improve their service or they will be replaced

by better individuals.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. The sad fact is that establishment Democrats

get the big money and thus the big advantage. I've participated in so many Democratic primaries over the years where the true progressive gets shunned and ridiculed and outspent by vast sums. I don't know why people are so retro.

[Newest Reality]

4. Waterboarding?

Seriously though, we can't force them to do anything these days. They decide their pay and work ours, etc. They are above and beyond our collective capacities, short of revolution and a major system change. Their game is not ours and we could start with a wide-spread recognition of where we stand concerning our representation. The numbers are in and the results reflect what is going on, time and time again with increasing intensity.

The system has changed enough where many of them are far more concerned, (with some notable exceptions) about their major constituents and the funding provided to them. They can come in from a corporation, "serve", and exit into a lucrative career. Or they can start out as aspirants and earn the same result by doing what is expected of them buy our arch-nemesis corporations that the deadbeat rich hide behind.

To pretend that we can force them, under the current rules and guidelines, to do something we demand seems to be our first impediment to actually obtaining results. Voters, (especially on a National level) are often left with little involvement, (other than expressed opinions and sometimes biased polls) in voting for issues that matter directly. We seem to have to accept what is dealt after the candidates take their place.

[dkf]

5. What is weird is that they hashed out this deal and instead of being proud of their work

Both sides feel bamboozled.

This country is so screwed.

[Luminous Animal]

6. Viagra?

[SDuderstadt]

7. "they work very few hours a week"

That is not remotely true. They average 60-80 hours a week.

[fujiyama]

13. Most of that time is either spent fundraising or meeting with lobbyists

Some small % of that time is spent "writing" legislation to fuck over everyday people or it's meaningless legislation to commemorate some person or event. Usually the legislation is written by staffers or aides, and hell sometimes by the lobbyists themselves.

They make good money (hell they vote for their own pay increases every year!) and get some of the best benefits around.

[SDuderstadt]

16. I'm used to hearing this kind of anti-Congress...

rhetoric from the other side.

It's sad when it appears on ours.

[pansypoo53219]

8. PUBLIC FUNDING OF CAMPAIGNS.

free teevee time equal.

[Ken Burch]

9. No potty breaks until the budget's passed.

n/t.

[SDuderstadt]

12. That's really...

brilliant, Burch.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

10. By dumping incumbents on a regular basis.

[SDuderstadt]

11. How would that make them...

"more productive"?

[global1]

14. Political Papparrazi.......

Have them followed and monitor their every move. Report what they do and what they don't do. Hound them - day and night. Watch what they do while they are in D.C. Watch what they do when they are back in their districts or states. Watch what they do when they are neither in their districts, states or D.C.

Watch them on the golf course. At restaurants and bars. Watch their houses on C Street. Watch what they do with their families. Watch what they do on vacation.

Report on who they meet with (like corporations, lobbyists, etc). Report on who they don't meet with (constituents, etc).

You get the idea. There should be a political equivalent tabloid like the National Enquirer or Star.

If they want to be elected to an office - they should be continually accountable to the people that voted them into office.

If they want the spotlight - give it to them - basically every moment from when they take office until they leave office and then follow up with them to see who they are working for after they leave office.

If they want to be public figures and they are public figures - make sure that everything they do is made public.

Eventually either they tow the line or their constituency will get to see who they really are and what they are about. Expose their hypocrisy. Make them accountable.

Keep track of all their campaign promises and report on the ones they make that they don't keep and the ones that they make that they keep. Basically keep score on their word.

Essentially what I'm suggesting is that we treat every one of our elected officials - like President Obama is being treated.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[SDuderstadt]

17. In other words...

stalk them.

Brilliant!

:thumbsdown:

[mmonk]

15. Replace them.

[Cresent City Kid]

18. There's no accountability lobby on K Street

Beyond that I'm not sure how to make them do anything. Public opinion polls at 60% for or against something isn't enough anymore.

I have smaller goals, like having a "Laws have to be about the laws they're about law". I'm so tired of unrelated ammendments and riders sneaking into legislation.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zanzoobar]

20. Do we really want them to be more productive?

Kinda like asking, how do we get our dog to tear up more furniture?

I'd rather they were part time. A three month session is long enough. Or maybe 100% teleconferencing for a couple hours every morning.

If you want productivity, send them home or keep them home to work. Make the lobbyists pound some pavement.

[apples and oranges]

21. This conversation must be continued, in light of yesterday's speech

President Obama can't do it all by himself. He needs help.