Does anyone know what the best way to influence the budget process and push to balanced budget?
Pitchforks...torches....
Ideally...(holds back laughter)....the representatives of the people will be influenced BY the people, however, as it stands now, that concept is pretty much lost due to two major factors.
1. APATHY of "the people".
2. Representatives knowledge of the above.
The majority of the American voting population simply doesn't care about who represents them, OR what it is that those elected actually do. Voter participation numbers makes this fact quite clear. While 50% or so of the American voting population is likely to turn out to vote for a president, LESS than 40% are likely to turn out to vote for a congressman or senator. Congress, contrary to the apparent popular belief, is kind of important. THEY are the ones that create the laws and THEY are the ones that control the purse strings. And yet, this body of government is all but ignored by the citizens. Which leads us to...
Representatives in congress KNOW "the people" don't give a crap, and therefore, DON'T have to answer to "the people", just "their people". When you look at voter turn out, say 30%, and you divide that paltry number by clown party lines, say roughly 50/50, you have a representative of "the people" who only has to answer to 15% of their constituency. As for the rest? WHO CARES THEY DON'T VOTE FOR THEM!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! These idiots KNOW that loyalty to their particular clown party is far more beneficial than any loyalty to "the people".
And the citizens let them get away with it...
IMO, there can be NO positive change in the way our government is operated in its current form, simply because any positive changes MUST stem from the government body in which WE need to change. Congress. Congress will NOT allow these changes to disrupt the current system as it stands now, as it is simply too easily exploitable and profitable.
Our nation, and I would argue our current form of government, reminds me of a boat at sea heading toward an iceberg. You've got a small percentage of passengers watching the course, seeing the iceberg approach, and trying to tell the crew of the vessel they are about to hit an iceberg. You've got another small percentage of passengers who think they won't hit the iceberg, everything will be fine, and the "alarmists" need to quit trying to scare everyone. The rest of the passengers don't care, are at the bar, dancing, or stuffing their face at a buffet line. Meanwhile the crew of the vessel maintain full speed ahead. Unlike the passengers aboard ship, however, we can't simply say "good luck", hop on a life boat, and leave them to their fate. We're stuck on the boat, and about the only thing we can do to keep from hitting that iceberg is to break into the captains bridge and set a new course ourselves.
