Why do we keep electing the same officials to Congress over and over?

2015-10-23T11:32:08-04:00

We as a society keep electing the same officials to Congress over and over making them lifetime Politicians. Are there really not any better choices for political representative out there or is there a reason we do not see more young men and women challenging the status quo?

Congress cannot even get it together collectively to even pass a budget any more. We shouldn't as a nation put up with this type of behavior. They are not doing their jobs. They just push the real issues further and further down the road until they're not issues any more. We can blame them but what about holding ourselves accountable for their actions? They will not change because we've reelected them over and over inspite of their laissez faire method of politics. They do not fear the American public opinion and it is our own fault.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/nov/11/facebook-posts/congress-has-11-approval-ratings-96-incumbent-re-e/

Congress has 11% approval ratings but 96% incumbent reelection rate, meme says

It would be an understatement to say that voters in the recently completed midterm elections didn’t exactly feel warm and fuzzy about incumbents on the ballot this year -- even about the ones they voted for. According to the 2014 exit poll of voters, 59 percent of those who voted said they weren’t happy with Republican leadership in Congress, even as they were handing control of the Senate to the GOP. A meme making its way around social media,...

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 11:32 AM

2015-10-23T11:32:41-04:00

Because of no term limits.

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Oct 23 at 2015 11:35 AM

2015-10-23T11:35:32-04:00

That's a really good question. I don't think we as a people are will to take a chance in new people getting in congress and making more mistakes than the ones up there already. Plus when it gets close to election time is when they keep most of the promise they made to get in there so it makes it look like they have gotten something done.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 11:40 AM

2015-10-23T11:40:01-04:00

Because each voter is saying the congress is bad but not my senator or house rep.

Term limit don't solve anything, it will make it worse. It will have more "RETIRED" senator or house rep drawing money out of their "pension". not to mention the out going one will be free to do whatever they want.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 11:46 AM

2015-10-23T11:46:23-04:00

In addition to the prevailing attitude of "my guy is good, the rest of them need to go", the process itself leads to this. The voting process of primaries and elections following insure that incumbents have too great of an advantage. In the House, gerrymandered districts mean each representative will be from the dominant party of that district, regardless. There is little incentive for internal party fights at the primary stage. In the Senate, there is a slightly greater chance of party upsets in the general election. But due the construction of the Senate, the 500,000 mostly Republican residents of Wyoming have the same representation of the 38 million mostly Democratic residents of California.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 23 at 2015 11:49 AM

2015-10-23T11:49:00-04:00

A couple reasons.

1) Each Congressman (Senate & House) represents their "District" NOT the Country. As such, what's good for Virginia (my current state) may be horrible for the other 49. Honestly I could care less about the rest of the Country when talking about my Senators and my Representative. They are here to fight against those yahoos. Of course I hate all the other Congress members.

2) Defenders advantage. Just like in war, the defense (incumbent) has an advantage. It's A LOT easier to get re-elected than elected. Things like name recognition just help.

3) Single issue voting. When you have parties that have adopted idiotic platforms that include singular issues that are divisive, people will chose specific issues to go with. Some "regions" those issues hold particular sway.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Oct 23 at 2015 11:53 AM

2015-10-23T11:53:38-04:00

Because most of us are stupid and lazy, and easily bought.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Oct 23 at 2015 12:04 PM

2015-10-23T12:04:12-04:00

It's a blame game. People think they make wise decisions, but think that others don't make wise decisions. That's why they continue to re-elect their own politicians, but they detest the overall group of politicians. They want to blame others for the problems they see without taking ownership of their role in creating those very problems.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Oct 23 at 2015 12:17 PM

2015-10-23T12:17:17-04:00

To quote my gramma, "T'is the evil we know." This quest to re-elect folks is... well... mindboggling.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 12:29 PM

2015-10-23T12:29:04-04:00

Because this country is full of Sheople; persons who can't drive without following a car in front of them; persons who can't vote without asking someone for whom they are voting; persons who have sat in the same pew at church for sixty years; persons whose entire lives are built around a system or pattern of everything being A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H... Yank a letter out of place or put a new one in a different spot in the rotation, and they will come unglued!!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 12:42 PM

2015-10-23T12:42:12-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member - I constantly ask myself this question all the time. I would like to go to some of the specific areas of specific career politicians and just indirectly gather atmospherics and see if they really do support their local candidate - who normally has a marginal reputation nationally (or so it seems).

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Oct 23 at 2015 12:52 PM

2015-10-23T12:52:07-04:00

We get what we vote for. People are gullible, and these days the second Golden Rule applies: He who has the gold makes the rules...

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Oct 23 at 2015 1:54 PM

2015-10-23T13:54:45-04:00

It's largely because we blame everyone else. The scary part is that a lot of places where we're seeing incumbents voted out, they're being replaced by people who essentially campaigned on a platform of making Washington even MORE dysfunctional.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Oct 23 at 2015 2:56 PM

2015-10-23T14:56:07-04:00

I have thought a lot about this but bottom line is that all politics is local and most people are selfish in that they want what is best for them, even if in the big picture it may not be best for the nation. So I think what happens is that people don't always associate the individual with the overall body. For instance, one of my two senators (Senator Charles Grassley) goes to my church and is a very unpretentious. He was very welcoming to my wife and me a couple of years ago when we moved here and we have seen him many times in the community. He has also been in office for 6 terms. I like him very much and would be hard pressed to vote against him. Yet when I complain about the Senate and House not doing their jobs, he is part of that. I am torn between what I philosophically believe and what my heart says. I think that happens even more in House races. Another issue is that once they are in office, they have the advantage of being known and get the publicity over anyone running against them. This makes them stronger and they have the ability to use official business to get around and meet people whereas a non-incumbent is paying through election campaign funds for everything. So incumbents have some inherent advantages that are difficult to overcome.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Oct 23 at 2015 2:56 PM

2015-10-23T14:56:08-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member - Lack of term limits; advantage of being the incumbent; uncaring/uninvolved/low information electorate

Response by SFC Wade W. made Oct 23 at 2015 3:16 PM

2015-10-23T15:16:44-04:00

We need term limits on Congress and the Senate. They consistently are stumping for continued office. If they had limits they would no longer pander to the lobbyists. Also, most people believe that the devil you know is... Hopefully with our last fiasco called Congress people will understand the need for new blood.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Oct 23 at 2015 5:34 PM

2015-10-23T17:34:16-04:00

Most people fail to read up on what is going on and once the vote for a name the keep doing it over and over again - complete insanity:
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Albert Einstein

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 23 at 2015 5:51 PM

2015-10-23T17:51:30-04:00

we get what we give. But can't seem to realize that very fact.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 6:23 PM

2015-10-23T18:23:49-04:00

People enjoy their benefits and are reluctant to see an issue with their representative who brings home the bacon.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 23 at 2015 6:48 PM

2015-10-23T18:48:32-04:00

Yes, We the People have a very low opinion of members of Congress. However, while we may disapprove of 99% of the members of Congress, the 1% we approve of are our own Senators and Representative. There's the real problem. Think about it...