US Government Shutdown - Page 4

*plastroncafe* · 10-06-2013, 01:24 AM

You know what I'd like, Sofistocat? To have my healthcare not dictated by my employment status. You know, the way things used to be before the wage freezes that followed WWII. If I wasn't so damn dependent on having health care through my employer, and could feasibly buy it on my own, I could do what I really want to do for a living, and not what I have to do to make ends meet.

I'm quite glad you have the Cadillac of insurance plans offered by your employer. That means I'm far less likely to have to bail you out should you find yourself ill and unable to make your health care payments. If there's one thing that chafes me so it's having my hard earned tax money go to people who insist that the word "entitlement" is somehow a slur.

I do agree with you though about the voting thing. I just hope that when people go to the polls they remember that the GOP is the one that left 800,000 hardworking American Government employees out in the cold because they decided playing at politics was more important to them than the health and well being of the people who put them into office in the first place.

I just hope they don't listen to you and show up at the polls on November 4th, because...that's not when elections are this year. They're on the 5th. They're always on the first Tuesday of the first full week in November. I know because I work a 16 hour day that day, at my third job as an Election Warden.

*Whatswiththeheadbands?* · 10-06-2013, 06:45 AM

I'm so glad i don't live in america.

The UK government seems fine, so far

*Katie* · 10-06-2013, 03:35 PM

As much as I think the shutdown is idiotic, part of me does hope that it lasts through election day if for no other reason that it will get people to go vote.

Also, the GOP is so sure that America doesn't want Obamacare? It's not gonna change by holding the govenment hostage. Let it go into effect. If they are so sure everyone will hate it, let it fail. People will vote for them to get rid of it. Instead they are acting like ignorant babies and sealing their own fates.

*blindturtle02* · 10-06-2013, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie

As much as I think the shutdown is idiotic, part of me does hope that it lasts through election day if for no other reason that it will get people to go vote.

Also, the GOP is so sure that America doesn't want Obamacare? It's not gonna change by holding the govenment hostage. Let it go into effect. If they are so sure everyone will hate it, let it fail. People will vote for them to get rid of it. Instead they are acting like ignorant babies and sealing their own fates.

It would be nice if people decided to cast their votes more often. My mom would always get so ticked off at my grandpa because he'd always complain about the government, but he never voted a day in his life. I think voting is quite fun especially since they have this computer with built in screen reading tech for totally blind folks such as myself to access in order to vote without some random person marking you down for who knows what?

*BubblyShell22* · 10-06-2013, 04:05 PM

Sorry. Nothing will make me vote unless they implement something where politicians have to take lie detector tests to see if they're telling the truth about their issues and what they want to do. If they pass, they can keep on going with their campaign. If they fail, they can't go on. Maybe that would be better than us just putting blind faith in these people and believing all their empty headed promises they spout.

*blindturtle02* · 10-06-2013, 04:49 PM

Good idea Bubblyshell lol! Lie detector tests should definitely be brought into play. I keep picturing the following scene in my head but I'd certainly feel safer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-TZ8Z5S9rI

I think the first person to take the test should be our uh highly esteemed governer here in Texas. Man I'd love to sit in on that one.

*blindturtle02* · 10-06-2013, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatswiththeheadbands?

I'm so glad i don't live in america.

The UK government seems fine, so far

Yeah man, you ain't kidding. It's such a joke over here right now. It's like everybody in congress decided to have this big wild party, got drunk, participated in a mud wrestling competition, then took a bunch of goofball pills to wash all the booze down while joining in a flash mob. That's about the best I can do when summarizing the current state of our government. I'm betting Obama goes out of office at the end of this Presidential term looking quite a bit older than he should.

*Katie* · 10-06-2013, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

Sorry. Nothing will make me vote unless they implement something where politicians have to take lie detector tests to see if they're telling the truth about their issues and what they want to do. If they pass, they can keep on going with their campaign. If they fail, they can't go on. Maybe that would be better than us just putting blind faith in these people and believing all their empty headed promises they spout.

The thing is, most politicians are decent people. Most really do believe that they can change the status quo and most believe they can help people and make a difference. They are human. Humans can fail and they aren't perfect. One thing they all have in common is that they don't know how the job works until they get elected.

They want to lower taxes and save poor people.....until they realize what exactly all those idealistic things involve....what it affects......and why it probably can't be done.

*BubblyShell22* · 10-07-2013, 07:59 AM

Sorry, I beg to differ on that. I believe that most politicians are in it for themselves. I would start voting if these changes were implemented:

1. The lie detector tests as I said before. I think that would be a good idea to weed out who really does care about the American people and which ones are only in it for themselves and the money because it seems to me that most of them are in it for themselves and for the money they get for campaigning and the like.

2. Stop showing negative campaign ads because frankly, those just make it seem like politicians are immature bullies. "Hey, look at how my opponent sucks and why you should vote for me." Keep the positive ads there and let voters decide based on that.

3. Everyone in Congress and up should be subjected to the same laws they pass on the rest of us and they shouldn't have the big perks either. In the event of a government shutdown, all of them should have their pay revoked until they can come to an agreement. Furthermore, if they don't come to an agreement in a certain amount of time, they get fired. That's how it would be in any other job.

4. Stop the lobbying or at least make it so they don't get paid for it. None of them should be paid until they actually reach whatever office they're campaigning for. That's the way it should be.

5. As far as it goes with terms, I think that whether a President is up for re-election should be based on the approval rating of the people. If the approval rating is down after the end of that term, the President shouldn't be re-elected. I also believe that Congress should get terms as well and only be able to serve either one or two terms before they are not allowed to run anymore. Maybe that would help with all of the stuff that's been going on.

6. Presidents and other politicians running for a certain office shouldn't be allowed to vote for themselves as I think that's very unfair. When they vote, they should be exempt from voting for whatever they are running for so that things stay fair.

So, until things like this happen, I refuse to vote, and I refuse to believe that politicians are really in it for the people when we all know they're in it for themselves. That's my two cents on it.

*plastroncafe* · 10-07-2013, 09:49 AM

Might I suggest then that the proper course of action not be to not vote at all, but rather to vote every election and cast your ballot as a write-in: no confidence. Here's the thing, you may think that you're taking a stand by not voting, but you forget that the only people who are listened to are the ones who speak up.

The bad guys don't want you to vote. They're depending on you not to vote. They're going out of their way to make it so you can't vote.

Not liking who is on the ballot is a poor excuse for not voting is essentially what I'm saying.

PAAATE · 10-07-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

1. The lie detector tests as I said before. I think that would be a good idea to weed out who really does care about the American people and which ones are only in it for themselves and the money because it seems to me that most of them are in it for themselves and for the money they get for campaigning and the like.

Lie detectors aren't necessarily trustworthy. Also, do you know how hard politicians work? "No one" does it for the money. You have to be passionate about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

2. Stop showing negative campaign ads because frankly, those just make it seem like politicians are immature bullies. "Hey, look at how my opponent sucks and why you should vote for me." Keep the positive ads there and let voters decide based on that.

Can't disagree on that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

3. Everyone in Congress and up should be subjected to the same laws they pass on the rest of us and they shouldn't have the big perks either. In the event of a government shutdown, all of them should have their pay revoked until they can come to an agreement. Furthermore, if they don't come to an agreement in a certain amount of time, they get fired. That's how it would be in any other job.

Can't disagree. Well, maybe not fired. Wouldn't that be kinda dangerous for society?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

5. As far as it goes with terms, I think that whether a President is up for re-election should be based on the approval rating of the people. If the approval rating is down after the end of that term, the President shouldn't be re-elected. I also believe that Congress should get terms as well and only be able to serve either one or two terms before they are not allowed to run anymore. Maybe that would help with all of the stuff that's been going on.

Oh no, statistics can't rule. There's a margin of error in that, and that's certainly dangerous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

6. Presidents and other politicians running for a certain office shouldn't be allowed to vote for themselves as I think that's very unfair. When they vote, they should be exempt from voting for whatever they are running for so that things stay fair.

That would mean someone's actually checking who they vote for, and I don't know about the US., but that would be illegal here in Sweden. But like I said, maybe not in the US. I dunno.

*Redeemer* · 10-07-2013, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAAATE

Lie detectors aren't necessarily trustworthy. Also, do you know how hard politicians work? "No one" does it for the money. You have to be passionate about it.

No the Interms and staff work their ass off. Politicians are basically public speakers. Politician do not have the hardest job in the world.

And also whats this crap about not doing it for the money??? If you serve one term in the Senate you get all of your childrens college paid for. You have free healthcare. You get salary for LIFE (Well Almost). They can double dip into (FERS) and social security. They get paid 80% of their salary for the rest of their life starting at 62 and at age fifty? I believe if they four terms.
But regardless they may go into politics for the passion, but most, not all have money in mind.

PAAATE · 10-07-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redeemer

No the Interms and staff work their ass off. Politicians are basically public speakers. Politician do not have the hardest job in the world.

And also whats this crap about not doing it for the money??? If you serve one term in the Senate you get all of your childrens college paid for. You have free healthcare. You get salary for LIFE (Well Almost). They can double dip into (FERS) and social security. They get paid 80% of their salary for the rest of their life starting at 62 and at age fifty? I believe if they four terms.
But regardless they may go into politics for the passion, but most, not all have money in mind.

Ok, sure, I might have gone overboard on that one. Then again, different cultures.

I had no idea about all those perks. Free college and health care is already a thing for everyone here, and I never even imagined that it works like that in the US.

Whatever. When you say it like that, sure, you might be right

*Redeemer* · 10-07-2013, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAAATE

Ok, sure, I might have gone overboard on that one. Then again, different cultures.

I had no idea about all those perks. Free college and health care is already a thing for everyone here, and I never even imagined that it works like that in the US.

Whatever. When you say it like that, sure, you might be right

Definately different in cultures. Our local (City of Columbus) school superintendent (Perso in charge of schools) was caught stealing money and fudging the numbers. And the saddest thing about all this??? She already make $206,000 a year!!!! and whats worse! our governer make $142,000 she make more than the person running the whole damn state!!!!

Politics 9/10 are out to make money first and help the people second.....

You guys get free healthcare and college over there you say??? Maybe my family and I should move back to sweden

*BubblyShell22* · 10-07-2013, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

Might I suggest then that the proper course of action not be to not vote at all, but rather to vote every election and cast your ballot as a write-in: no confidence. Here's the thing, you may think that you're taking a stand by not voting, but you forget that the only people who are listened to are the ones who speak up.

The bad guys don't want you to vote. They're depending on you not to vote. They're going out of their way to make it so you can't vote.

Not liking who is on the ballot is a poor excuse for not voting is essentially what I'm saying.

No, it's a perfect excuse. Sure, there may be write in candidates, but it doesn't matter because those are essentially ignored, especially in a presidential election. Even if I were to vote for an independent candidate or a liberatarian candidate, it wouldn't matter because all they care about is either the Democrat or the Republican candidate to win. So, thanks for the suggestion, but I'm going to politely decline.

**Jester** · 10-07-2013, 04:59 PM

But Bubbly....it's your voice. Even if the 2 major parties "always" win, it might put a fire under them to see 3rd party options getting higher and higher election results every year. It'd be a sign that The People are growing more and more dissatisfied with them. It may be one way to put the fear of God into people who at best want what they feel is best their small segment of America and at worst just want what's good for them.

You vote to let your voice be heard...even if it's just a whisper in the screaming throngs of the 2 Party System.

*Katie* · 10-07-2013, 08:45 PM

Yup exactly. At one time there were no republicans. There were whigs. Don't have those anymore. Was a major party at one time. Presidents even. People stopped backing them. Party died.

But I fear we're speaking to a brick wall. Some people are very content to let the rest of us dictate their lives with our voices.

*plastroncafe* · 10-07-2013, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

No, it's a perfect excuse. Sure, there may be write in candidates, but it doesn't matter because those are essentially ignored, especially in a presidential election. Even if I were to vote for an independent candidate or a liberatarian candidate, it wouldn't matter because all they care about is either the Democrat or the Republican candidate to win. So, thanks for the suggestion, but I'm going to politely decline.

First of all, the only people who get ignored on election day are the one's who don't show up.
Secondly, no one's individual vote counts in a Presidential Race because that race isn't decided by popular vote, but by Electoral.

The races that are actually important, the ones that impact your daily lives, are the local municipal and State/Commonwealth elections. Those would be the ones held every November, and very rarely involve party politics at all.

So...yeah, sorry. By not voting you're only really hurting your own cause.

*Mr._Mutant_Man* · 10-07-2013, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

Sorry. Nothing will make me vote unless they implement something where politicians have to take lie detector tests to see if they're telling the truth about their issues and what they want to do. If they pass, they can keep on going with their campaign. If they fail, they can't go on. Maybe that would be better than us just putting blind faith in these people and believing all their empty headed promises they spout.

I've got a feeling that most politicians would be good enough liars to trick the lie detector.

~~Leo656~~ · 10-07-2013, 11:32 PM

The reason I laugh when people blame one party or the other for "what's wrong" is that all politicians are jagoffs. The second the cameras are off, almost all of them head right to the same strip clubs with the same "paid escorts" and do the same cocaine with rolled-up bills they got from OUR taxes. So many Democrats and Republicans even have the same speechwriters, it's ridiculous. F*ck 'em all. It's all a huge work, even this "shut-down" is just something they staged to get normally-complacent people impassioned leading into an election season. How convenient is it that so many people who usually have nothing to say about politics are suddenly so deeply invested in it? It's all a game to our Corporate Masters. None of it affects them, so it's theater. They don't care what happens to The Little Guy? Sh*t, what else is new?

Anybody who wants to "save the world" joins the Peace Corps. Nobody who wears a suit for a living is doing it for ANYONE but themselves.

10-06-2013, 06:45 AM	#62
Whatswiththeheadbands? The Weed of Crime Join Date: May 2013 Location: The Shadow's Sanctum Posts: 3,007	I'm so glad i don't live in america. The UK government seems fine, so far __________________ Who knows what Evil lurks in the hearts of Men? The Shadow knows...

10-06-2013, 03:35 PM	#63
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	As much as I think the shutdown is idiotic, part of me does hope that it lasts through election day if for no other reason that it will get people to go vote. Also, the GOP is so sure that America doesn't want Obamacare? It's not gonna change by holding the govenment hostage. Let it go into effect. If they are so sure everyone will hate it, let it fail. People will vote for them to get rid of it. Instead they are acting like ignorant babies and sealing their own fates. __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

10-06-2013, 04:05 PM	#65
BubblyShell22 Leo-holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 16,912	Sorry. Nothing will make me vote unless they implement something where politicians have to take lie detector tests to see if they're telling the truth about their issues and what they want to do. If they pass, they can keep on going with their campaign. If they fail, they can't go on. Maybe that would be better than us just putting blind faith in these people and believing all their empty headed promises they spout. __________________ "A warrior who never fails, never learns."-The Ancient One. "Embrace your inner a**holiness."-Mr. Anderson.

10-06-2013, 04:49 PM	#66
blindturtle02 Foot Elite Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Tx Posts: 2,627	Good idea Bubblyshell lol! Lie detector tests should definitely be brought into play. I keep picturing the following scene in my head but I'd certainly feel safer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-TZ8Z5S9rI I think the first person to take the test should be our uh highly esteemed governer here in Texas. Man I'd love to sit in on that one. __________________ Please don't remove my nice hat and wack me in the butt with it.

10-07-2013, 07:59 AM	#69
BubblyShell22 Leo-holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 16,912	Sorry, I beg to differ on that. I believe that most politicians are in it for themselves. I would start voting if these changes were implemented: 1. The lie detector tests as I said before. I think that would be a good idea to weed out who really does care about the American people and which ones are only in it for themselves and the money because it seems to me that most of them are in it for themselves and for the money they get for campaigning and the like. 2. Stop showing negative campaign ads because frankly, those just make it seem like politicians are immature bullies. "Hey, look at how my opponent sucks and why you should vote for me." Keep the positive ads there and let voters decide based on that. 3. Everyone in Congress and up should be subjected to the same laws they pass on the rest of us and they shouldn't have the big perks either. In the event of a government shutdown, all of them should have their pay revoked until they can come to an agreement. Furthermore, if they don't come to an agreement in a certain amount of time, they get fired. That's how it would be in any other job. 4. Stop the lobbying or at least make it so they don't get paid for it. None of them should be paid until they actually reach whatever office they're campaigning for. That's the way it should be. 5. As far as it goes with terms, I think that whether a President is up for re-election should be based on the approval rating of the people. If the approval rating is down after the end of that term, the President shouldn't be re-elected. I also believe that Congress should get terms as well and only be able to serve either one or two terms before they are not allowed to run anymore. Maybe that would help with all of the stuff that's been going on. 6. Presidents and other politicians running for a certain office shouldn't be allowed to vote for themselves as I think that's very unfair. When they vote, they should be exempt from voting for whatever they are running for so that things stay fair. So, until things like this happen, I refuse to vote, and I refuse to believe that politicians are really in it for the people when we all know they're in it for themselves. That's my two cents on it. __________________ "A warrior who never fails, never learns."-The Ancient One. "Embrace your inner a**holiness."-Mr. Anderson.

10-07-2013, 04:59 PM	#76
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,301	But Bubbly....it's your voice. Even if the 2 major parties "always" win, it might put a fire under them to see 3rd party options getting higher and higher election results every year. It'd be a sign that The People are growing more and more dissatisfied with them. It may be one way to put the fear of God into people who at best want what they feel is best their small segment of America and at worst just want what's good for them. You vote to let your voice be heard...even if it's just a whisper in the screaming throngs of the 2 Party System. __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

10-07-2013, 08:45 PM	#77
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	Yup exactly. At one time there were no republicans. There were whigs. Don't have those anymore. Was a major party at one time. Presidents even. People stopped backing them. Party died. But I fear we're speaking to a brick wall. Some people are very content to let the rest of us dictate their lives with our voices. __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

10-07-2013, 11:32 PM	#80
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	The reason I laugh when people blame one party or the other for "what's wrong" is that all politicians are jagoffs. The second the cameras are off, almost all of them head right to the same strip clubs with the same "paid escorts" and do the same cocaine with rolled-up bills they got from OUR taxes. So many Democrats and Republicans even have the same speechwriters, it's ridiculous. Fck 'em all. It's all a huge work, even this "shut-down" is just something they staged to get normally-complacent people impassioned leading into an election season. How convenient is it that so many people who usually have nothing to say about politics are suddenly so deeply invested in it? It's all a game to our Corporate Masters. None of it affects them, so it's theater. They don't care what happens to The Little Guy? Sht, what else is new? Anybody who wants to "save the world" joins the Peace Corps. Nobody who wears a suit for a living is doing it for ANYONE but themselves.