As if incumbents didn’t already have enough to worry about, add one more thing to the list.
Optimism about the American system of government is at a 36-year low, yet most Americans blame the people in office — not the system itself — for all that’s going wrong, according to a new ABC News/Yahoo! News poll.
That means bad news ahead for incumbents on Election Day — particularly those of the Democratic variety. The underlying message of the new poll seems to be that new blood on Capitol Hill is the first step in getting back on track.
“In bad times, people blame those in power: It’s got to be your fault — you’re in charge,” says Larry Sabato, head of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
There’s little doubt that Americans, frustrated by the economy’s woes, are plenty worried about Washington’s seeming inability to successfully tackle that or many of the nation’s other problems.
Only 33 percent of Americans today say they are optimistic about “our system of government and how well it works,” according to the new poll, produced for ABC and Yahoo! News by Langer Research Associates. That’s the smallest number in the nearly dozen times the question has been asked over several decades. Back in the summer of 1974 — not long after President Richard Nixon resigned in the wake of Watergate — 55 percent of Americans were optimistic that the system was working.
8 thoughts on “Voters still blame the people, not the system”
Carl Nemo, thanks for the info.
I would like nothing more than to see both PAC’s and lobby groups eliminated.
Corporate contributions/funding of candidate campaigns on any level should be considered “off the table” as well.
There are certain PAC’s which operate in DC who act on behalf of foreign governments operating on US soil.
As most of you know, our “elected” representatives attend yearly events and pledge their allegiance to a certain PAC, vowing security and safety.
More times than not, this comes as a detriment to US citizens and US interests.
Voters are catching on. Hopefully they lay the blame squarely where it belongs.
“As most of you know, our “elected” representatives attend yearly events and pledge their allegiance to a certain PAC, vowing security and safety.”
Actually, I don’t know… not that I’m saying you’re incorrect… but, could you supply concrete info on the MOST of our reps that do this?
Here’s a good link Almandine concerning PAC’s and how Congress responds to their ‘needs’. There’s also a spoof pledge of allegiance concerning what’s within their collective hearts no doubt as they suck up to corporate entities and sell us all out for a “few dollars more”. / : |
https://www.character-education.us/pacmoney.htm
Carl Nemo **==
Pretty sure eve is referring to AIPAC. At least that is the big one that comes to my mind that demands security.
I don’t think Eve was referring to AIPAC, but your suggestion is an excellent example of this corrupting practice.
What amazes me his how the money is distributed in a measured fashion to members of Congress. Israel’s affiliates have no doubt done so for maximum bang for the shekel/buck. They don’t waste money on fence-sitting ‘supporters’.
This is an example of only one influence peddling org among thousands that try to ‘bribe’ our elected reps to do their bidding and is also de facto proof that lobbyists and PAC’s need to be mightily curtailed or shut down…period!
Each U.S. citizen gets one vote, but influence peddlers get a number of votes equal to each dollar ‘donated’…no? / : |
Carl Nemo **==
Hi Eve,
The root cause of our problem is the unfettered flow of money to our elected politicians. Nothing corrupts as absolutely as the dispensation of money to corrupt entities in power…period!
Two things that need to be mightily curtailed or eliminated are PACs (Political Action Committees) and lobbying. This is the modern era ‘profit motive’ for our now evil “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” paradigm.
https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/index.php
https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacfaq.php
I’m supplying two links that explain how they operate and corrupt our system of representation. Crimpols once elected pitch gratuitous scraps of ‘pork’ back to their constituents in Mayberry, USA while the real money to be made is via their deep pockets constituents in corporate AmeriKa and the world at large.
Carl Nemo **==
The people may blame their representatives and they are half correct. The other half of the problem is the system.
So the representatives are exploiting the system, which (in turn) ends up exploiting the US citizen.
IMHO every sitting incumbent needs to go, I judge them by their actions and the result of their actions.
The handshake/quick eye glance and a smile thing ain’t working on me.
You can tell a woman you’re going to marry her BUT until you’ve said “I do” you haven’t.
Actions … not words.
If the peoplev of Wisconsin replace Senator Feingold it will be a tragic mistake. He’s the only one who stands up to the system. The Tea Party should embrace him. He was the only one to vote against the “Patriot Act” which allowed unlimited GOVERNMENT intrusion into our lives. He votes consistently against the Lobbyists. Don’tr be misled by a ‘millionaire’ in workingmans clothes.
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