Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Underachieving Congress Appears in No Hurry to Change Things Now
This article tells of how our current Congress, the 113th Congress, is the most unproductive in history. I found this to be fascinating, but also predictable, considering the ridiculous, uncooperative behavior Congress has had recently. Numerous bills are mentioned throughout the article, all which might (or probably won't) get passed. The most significant of these bills is the Farm Bill, which Democrats and Republicans, as usual, are very torn. Democrats are putting Republicans on blast, trying to ease them away from the opinionated Tea Party wing of their party. All in all, this article reinforces how broken Congress is today, an idea we've discussed often in class.
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ReplyDeleteThere seems to be very reoccurring topic when it comes to the government in these blogs. Unproductive. "The least productive Congress ever." Does this not feel unsettling to those who are in Congress and all aspects of the government. Everyone argues, but people learn to make compromises. Not everyone who wrote the constitution had the same ideas. They made compromises. "Congress is flirting with failing to pass its annual Pentagon policy bill for the first time in 52 years." I know I don't want this to be true. Both parties need to do what we learned in kindergarten. Compromise.
Throughout this blog, I don't think I've read an article that took a positive view on what is occurring in our government today. As this article states, our current congress is the most underachieving yet. Shouldn't that be a hint that we're doing something wrong?? Both parties need to learn to make an agreement and realize they won't always get everything they way they want it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ian. Compromise is something that children are taught to do and is a skill that most people should practice throughout their lives. The government is supposed to be working to provide a better world for their citizens, but it seems to me that all they do is argue and forget their purpose.
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ReplyDelete“...The Affordable Care Act launch is actually demonstrating the ineptitude of the federal government in handling these big programs.”
ReplyDeleteThe 113th Congress has passed all of 55 laws so far this year, seven fewer at this point than the 112th Congress — the least productive Congress ever.
These two quotes pretty much some of everything about America. The government has implemented so many big programs that they've put too much on their plates and they haven't been able to fix it, and when things got too tough, they are seemingly giving up. Once things get too tough, we don't try to fix it. We kind of just say, "oh well!" and just give up on trying to fix the problem.
I agree that compromise is a basic skill that we all learn as young children, but apparently most of the politicians in Washington today missed out on it. It should be obvious that the way things are going currently is not working, and something needs to be done to change it. If Congress does not start to work together to pass legislation I think we will start to see a lot more things like the government shutdown occur in the future.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually embarrassing that there are struggles on agreements with bills that have no money attached to them, and are the ones that are usually passed overwhelmingly every other year. I agree with Erin that this sort of underachievement should be a hint that something is very wrong. If Congress can't come to a decision on simple bills that are usually agreed upon, what does this mean for the future state of the government? Important decisions need to be made quickly in order to keep it running. The problems need to stop being continuously put off and compromises need to be made.
ReplyDeleteIn the first comment I think Ian has the right idea because really there is a recurring theme. In fact, I am running out of things to say on this topic in these comments. So I guess instead of adding anything new, this comment will just be about how I have nothing to say, because by now (and long ago) it is clear that gridlock and finger pointing are big issues.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I also agree with Ian on this issue. Congress needs to learn how to compromise. I would hope that Congressmen run for public office with the hope of having a positive impact on our country, but this basic value often times seems to get lost when people enter congress. Congress needs to reevaluate it's current behavior, because currently preschool kids would have more luck passing bills.
ReplyDeleteIt would appear that congress's inability to compromise is due largely to the increased polarization of the schools of thought surrounding either party more so than anything else.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to read this article right after reading the article Annamarie posted. It was very cool to see the views of a member of congress in Annamarie's article contrasted with views of outsiders in this article. I don't see how the congress could disagree with their "do nothing label" when in this article they are said to be the most unproductive congress in the history of 113 congresses.
ReplyDeleteAt some point, the Republican leadership has to ask itself, ‘Why are they here?’ ” said Representative Jim McGovern, Democrat of Massachusetts.
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out the most to me because it seems that both sides need to ask themselves "Why are we here?" Both parties would probably answer something along the lines of "to serve the American public." The article did a good job of providing examples of government disfunction and supplementing these examples with quotes from representatives of both parties. These quotes showed that both parties are playing the blame game by constantly stating the other party is liable for the disfunction. This game certainly isn't serving the American public as almost nothing can be accomplished.
I really like Josh's comment. Why are the politicians there? If they truly believe that they are there to serve the American people than why aren't they more willing to compromise? Surely they realize that more things will get done if they do so. My conclusion, is that there is too much careerism in congress these days. It used to be that serving in a public office supposed to be a "burden" taken upon to help serve the needs of the country. Things have definitely changed. Many politicians are probably focused on reelection a lot more than they should be.
DeleteI really like Josh's comment. Why are the politicians there? If they truly believe that they are there to serve the American people than why aren't they more willing to compromise? Surely they realize that more things will get done if they do so. My conclusion, is that there is too much careerism in congress these days. It used to be that serving in a public office supposed to be a "burden" taken upon to help serve the needs of the country. Things have definitely changed. Many politicians are probably focused on reelection a lot more than they should be.
DeleteCompromises are very rare now on Capitol Hill because of the very partisan division lines throughout Congress. This article brings out many important factors of the inability of Congress to have event the simplest of legislations pass through the Senate and the House. The Congress-members themselves have been elected to these seats of position by citizens who expect them to have results of some measure but this problem of extreme partisanship has throughly infected the system.
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be the most popular topic of discussion on this blog. But it is also deservingly the most talked about topic. Congress is about as useful as me running the last leg of a race. It's clear the Tea Party members do not want to cooperate with the Democrats let along some Republicans even. Congress needs a change that is surely coming.
ReplyDeleteI think that passing laws and overreaching are not necessarily mutually inclusive. As time goes on, things change and new developments are made, in order to adjust for those changes, congress must pass laws. A congress that does not pas laws is one that allows for disorder and chaos. Congress must protect people and that is done so through law. So I think that the inactivity of congress is a display of their failure to do their jobs.
ReplyDeleteI knew our congress was bad, but I never thought it was the most unproductive in history! How embarrassing for its current members and the people it represents. I don't think that passing the most laws defines an effective congress, but the inability of our parties to work together in any way is inexcusable. You think that this ranking would be a hint that something is wrong but it seems there are no efforts from our representatives to change. How aggravating!
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