Have Politics overshadowed our Government in getting anything accomplished in the US for way too long?

2016-07-03T10:03:06-04:00

Will we see this happen again in 2017 when it comes to getting legislation through the House and Senate?

The cartoon above is wrong in my opinion on Politics these days - "The struggle for money, power, and votes!"

Just an opinion - your thoughts RP Members?

I was speaking with a Veteran on Saturday and he stated that he had an epiphany last week while watching the Politics on TV and came to the realization that there is a wide gap between Politics and the Government.

He simply stated, "When did the Government actually due something for the people in the last 20 years, versus just pointing fingers and pushing their political agendas for money, power, and votes?"

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 3 at 2016 10:05 AM

2016-07-03T10:05:33-04:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs great read and share, I simply miss President Ronald Reagan! One of the best to ever "put up or shut up". Reagonomics 101.

Response by CPO Mark Lovelace, CSP made Jul 3 at 2016 10:12 AM

2016-07-03T10:12:18-04:00

Absolutely.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jul 3 at 2016 10:29 AM

2016-07-03T10:29:37-04:00

AUTHOR: Benjamin Franklin (1706–90)
QUOTATION: “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?”

“A Republic, if you can keep it.”

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 3 at 2016 10:37 AM

2016-07-03T10:37:51-04:00

The mistake is looking to government for a solution. Freedom is about choice, the system is setup for compromise. No compromise, no government action.
The government spending was over $4T and roughly 35% of the economy, government is acting, but each side is not getting 100% of what they want.
We need more producers who want to change the world and less people in government telling us the rules.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 3 at 2016 10:38 AM

2016-07-03T10:38:08-04:00

I see no gap between the two. They are complimentary. Government makes the laws, enforces the law, and adjudicates disputes in accordance with the law. Politics is the process by which We the People decide who will do those things. That's always as it has been. The problem today is that We the People are divided between those who wish to live as free men and women and those who wish to surrender those freedoms in exchange from freedom from responsibility. Sadly, the former haven't been paying attention to government (it simply wasn't that important to free men and women) and those who want a big government to take responsibility for everything have been having their way. Thus, government is now big enough to intrude into every detail of our lives and costs more than we can afford. There is now a lot of strife as freedom-loving men and women are awakening to the danger and trying to take back their lives and their freedom. It's going to be an interesting contest from here on out...

Response by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM made Jul 3 at 2016 11:36 AM

2016-07-03T11:36:03-04:00

I see a total disconnect between the people and the government.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jul 3 at 2016 1:53 PM

2016-07-03T13:53:31-04:00

I believe so. Politics used to be a tool used to influence the direction of government. Now it seems that politicians use government as a tool to influence their politics. Many pieces of legislation are simply shallow votes meant to either a) push an agenda (like the many votes to repeal Obamneycare, which we know is going nowhere) or b) to embarrass the opposition party (like the votes on gun control, which we also know is going nowhere). To me, it appears as if almost everything being done in Congress is aimed at influencing the next election, rather than to actually solve any of our society's problems.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 3 at 2016 2:07 PM

2016-07-03T14:07:58-04:00

The government is divided and dysfunctional because they are a reflection of the culture war going on in the country today. The situation will never improve until the electorate improves.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 3 at 2016 2:22 PM

2016-07-03T14:22:43-04:00

Politics is certainly the struggle for power and influence COL Mikel J. Burroughs. It involves those who want to offer as much as they can for low or no direct cost to the recipient [liberal/progressive] and those who want to reign in government largesse to focus on what it was originally structured to do [conservative republican and libertarian] and those who take positions in between [thoughtful or waffling depending on point of view.
Getting sufficient votes of individual voters is a political focus.
Getting sufficient congressional votes is a governmental focus

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Jul 3 at 2016 9:57 PM

2016-07-03T21:57:25-04:00

The parties push for party control or nothing and the press pushes PC BS down our throats. I fear for the Republic.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Jul 5 at 2016 1:19 PM

2016-07-05T13:19:24-04:00

Yes, the government is enmeshed in a jumble of conflicting interest groups who push against each other and so use up all energy that might have been put to good use in solving issues. Take in point the social security situation. The government has known for decades that the system will run out of dollars in the 2030's. Instead of doing something simple like raising the retirement age for any benefits, raising the income level for taxable income, and other fixes the government instead releases reports that the system will be dry years earlier than expected.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jul 7 at 2016 6:01 PM

2016-07-07T18:01:55-04:00

It is not politics but more like legalize corruption, and point the fingers on the others so that no one looks at you; in the end they all come out making good money for doing nothing which is a lot for their benefactors.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 8 at 2016 12:51 PM

2016-07-08T12:51:36-04:00

I'll stick my neck out and have to agree with the cartoon. Government is just wanting to tax us for everything except the air we breath, and that's probably next on their list.

Response by SSG William Jones made Jul 9 at 2016 10:08 PM

2016-07-09T22:08:33-04:00

Seems to me that you CPT Jack Durish and COL Mikel J. Burroughs may be roughly in the same ballpark, just different sections. I see such parallels in your conservative thoughts. Where am I going wrong?

Response by SFC Wade W. made Jul 10 at 2016 3:01 PM

2016-07-10T15:01:51-04:00

I am a State Sovereignty advocate. The Federal Government is not the answer to our problems. Today people turn to the feds to fix everything when the real answer is in our local governments. People like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have people believing that the Federal Government can fix all of their problems and everyone will live happily ever after. Political classes have been Created through this and now we have stalemates at every level of government. Turn back the clock please.

Response by SPC Leon Humphries made Jul 12 at 2016 7:28 PM

2016-07-12T19:28:17-04:00

I think they all blend together. Too many deep pockets pulling string on politicians puppets. Our current government has placed to much value in race. Not not too much reguard to the betterment of people. I'm not going to get on my soap box but you can obtain the heat of my thoughts. DC is out of control.

Response by SPC(P) Mark Newman made Jul 21 at 2016 11:11 AM

2016-07-21T11:11:16-04:00

Interesting. I think they are different, politics and government. One is about the running of our nation. The other is about running for office.

Response by LTC Peter Hartman made Jan 2 at 2017 6:40 PM

2017-01-02T18:40:42-05:00

Our Founders made government hard. Separation of powers prevents rash legislation from passing. The Founders wanted less laws passed, not more. I agree.

Response by CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw made Jan 2 at 2017 8:15 PM

2017-01-02T20:15:02-05:00

Yes for the past, hope not for our future!!! Reason I believe in term limits!!!

Response by MAJ Karen Wall made Jan 2 at 2017 8:23 PM

2017-01-02T20:23:16-05:00

I would like to offer at least one positive government story for 2016...
In October, Congress passed a law that removed an illogical education barrier that has been faced by numerous Marriage and Family Therapists (myself included) who want to work in the VA providing therapy to veterans. In response to the ongoing access issues and lack of qualified therapists in the VA, and after a long and dramatic struggle, the barriers were removed and President Obama signed the law. I think for now I will hang on to this one in hope in the midst of all the political games out there.