Facebook Discussion on the Government 11/10/2012

Laurie Devino "So now that Obama won by 3 million votes not 6000 and liberal ballot initiatives were passed all over the county and conservatives with extreme views on abortion lost house and senate seats and an unprecedented number of women were voted into office (including the first openly gay women in the senate) does that mean the republicans need to remember that they did NOT win by a narrow margin and consensus building is important and perhaps see that the mood of the country is moving to the center and HELP set the tone?"

Jeff Herz "Laurie - "does that mean the republicans need to remember that they did NOT win by a narrow margin and consensus building is important?" YES - but will that actually register with them? I doubt it.

My fundamental problem, as opposed to Greg who is now fixated on the electoral college which has been in place for over 210 years, is that "WE THE PEOPLE" don't have a significant voice in our government anymore.

It is now "WE THE PARTY" since very rarely and only when individual earmarks (pork) for constituents districts are at stake does either party vote against their leaders regardless of if they believe in the legislation or not. If Party says no, and you want to move with your initiatives you follow the leader. It is also "WE THE CORPORATIONS" or "WE THE PACS/LOBBY' who have more time and money to spend influencing elected officials across the board, rather than if you or I go to DC to speak with our Senators or Representative. We see it on the local level too where things dont happen unless the party approves it. We need to figure out how to take our government back and make it work for the people, not for others. As citizens with different histories, theologies, ideologies, cultures, heritage, etc. Americans will never 100% agree on anything. However, for centuries and for multiple civilizations government has existed to serve the needs of the people, and we are no exception and need to get back to what its sole purpose is, to help the people."