On Capitol Hill representatives got an impassioned and much needed speech about simply doing what is right. representatives introduced a bill deciding if 9/11 first responders should receive medical care. However, the GOP had enough votes to prevent its passage. New York Representative Anthony Weiner was infuriated that his fellow representatives said the bill presented was good, but the procedure was not right. The procedure the GOP talked about was that in a previous vote, it was decided that the bill could not be amended. Rep. Weiner did not have an issue with people who did not support the content of the bill. However, he was enraged at those who claimed the bill was good and the right thing to do but felt the house should fallow normal procedure on all bills.
Even if some felt Weiner’s speech was overzealous, he ultimately spoke of the main issue with government. The nation has grown sick of congressmen and presidents who tell of everything they will change, but once in power do nothing. Every four years there is a claim that immigration form will occur, yet still hasn’t. Congress needs to stop worrying about procedure, whether it is being able to amend a bill or voting with party lines. Instead they merely stop and do what they believe is right and wrong. This means if they think the measures per posed by a bill are wrong then yes vote not, but if they believe the bill is right then vote yes. It is only when the nation can see that the congress is concerned with right and wrong will people have faith that the government is looking out for its citizens.
I completely agree with Kmearite in her article Setting Stage 5 for Right v. Wrong. She argues that politicians these days are much too concerned with procedure, and that because of this they often lose site of what they think is right. As a result, they will vote one direction on a bill when in their hearts they feel the other direction would be in the better interest of the country.
ReplyDeleteMany things could possibly attribute to why some politicians don’t follow their heart and what they think is right. However, I think the primary reason people vote a certain way against their gut is to stay in line with their particular political party. In some ways, parties have become an obstacle in our political system as the ties to those within their party have made some politicians, and possibly citizens, forget what Government’s role as a whole is. The existence of different parties and ideologies puts pressure on people to choose a side. Once a side is chosen, they receive further pressure to stay in line with that side. Even since the start of this course less than a month ago, I have felt confused and unsure when I learned that my first gut instinct on an issue was not in agreement with my determined and supported ideology and party affiliation. It is very hard to come to grips with the fact that you may agree with the opposing party on an issue, particularly when loyalty is such a prevalent characteristic in politicians, if not the human race.
I cannot offer much of a solution to the problem, only encourage people not to worry when they think outside the lines of their party. They should indeed just do what they think is right. We really cannot ask for much more than that.
Wow, I had a really hard time finding the link to the speech on Capitol Hill, you should really change the color scheme or make the link a larger selection- something I could find without using Google.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, New York Representative Anthony Weiner was certainly passionate about this, and rightly so, the GOP is voting against it because of tax increases- “OH! Oh I'm so sorry there's a tax increase! I didn't know they were going to try and PAY FOR THE BILL!...” Jon Stewart really puts his dark comedy at it's best to work here by cutting all the bullshit out and giving you the reality as harsh as it really is. He brings up the target of the tax increase; "...foreign multinational corporations incorporated in tax haven countries from avoiding tax on income earned in the U.S.", THOSE POOR MULTIMILLIONAIRES!! I'm right on Jon's level here.
The GOP shot down a health care bill that would help pay for costs directly related to the rescue of American tax-paying citizens, whom have experienced burns and inhaled many carcinogens for the sake of innocent lives, for absolutely no good reason- for the sake of being conservative male, pale, stale, frail fools. OF COURSE Weiner was enraged, and you should give some more of the story as to why he felt so much. I feel you're watering down the story entirely too much and presenting a limited amount of information on the subject at hand- which would capture audiences and prepare them more for your blanket statement's on National Government. It seems as though you immediately rely on Arizona's SB 1070 to backup your claim on the GOP's hold on Congress, but you do not delve into any of the specifically enraging facts- this is a more perfect example than SB 1070 and it's not fully taken advantage of.
Congress can't and won't stop worrying about procedure, it's what keeps bills from being passed “willy-nilly”. If there was no structure there would be no gate, and with no gate, no gate keepers to protect the U.S. Citizens from porker legislation- evil will always exist. It seems most of the GOP cannot open their eyes to the difference between right and wrong- it's as if they've been brainwashed by their own propaganda and gluttony.
Weiner did speak of the main problem with the government, “republicans embracing republicans” for the sake of saving each others own necks. The GOP is resisting so much reform, eventually the populous will replace them in office to represent the diverse United States of America, we will move on past the unwise soon but we need to have our eyes open.
I agree with your statements, but I just think you need more substance or passion, and I thank you for bringing this previously unknown issue to the light.