when in doubt, follow the money.
Good point, care to expand on this?
>> when in doubt, follow the money.
> Good point, care to expand on this?
Well, for pork it's amazingly easy-- throwing bales of govt money (OUR tax dollars) back home, in return get tons of money to stay in power. The bloated transportation bill, and the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" shows where a supposedly conservative representative feels no guilt at all about betraying conservative principles.
Look at the lobbyists, and look at the prevalence of exiting Congressmen to the private sector, where they get cushy, overpaid gigs. Look up "Tauzin" to get the backstory on one of these. Oh yeah, there's a quid pro quo. Look at Duke Cunningham, a legislator for whom I had a lot of respect once.
For immigration, what's better for donation-rich corporations than a labor force working for slave wages? Why do you think enforcement at the employer level, while overwhelmingly popular with voters, has always been a non-starter? Follow the money.
So, now, for this: how to start balancing the books? Well, don't bother cutting the pork and waste-- don't bite the hand that feeds you, right? Stick it to the entrepreneur-- not only do they compete with our pocket-stuffing established corporations, but they have very little brib-- er, lobbying power.
I had hoped the Republicans would behave better than the corrupt Dims, but other than some notable exceptions, they have descended into the same pit.
I held my nose and voted, gagging and choking, straight Republican this past election, mostly to avoid the evil of voting Dim (who have been corrupt as well). But the GOP did not earn my vote. And yes, they DO have to earn it.
At this point I'm hoping for gridlock... sweet, sweet gridlock for the pork and spending machine. BUT we won't get even that if the president caves! So let's say I'm very, very wary.