Disappointed

A NY Times and CBS Poll Find 82% of Americans Disapprove of Congress

I have one word for the recent negotiations over the debt ceiling increase with spending cuts and no new revenues - disappointed.  When I was younger, something like this would have made me swear off political involvement and research forever.  The best action, however, is the opposite - when a system fails, you should get more involved to fix it.  It's not like a social group you can just choose to leave and the stakes are too high for too many people to leave things the way they are.  Government touches the daily lives of everyone living in America.  Things can get much better, but it will take a lot of work from a lot of people who understand real compromise and good policy based on results, not partisanship or cultural differences.

What's Up With the Stock Market?

Well, it sucks...

I wrote a little while ago about how policy can effect stock prices.  This is another example.  Investors, bankers and analysts all looked at the crappy policy passed to raise the debt ceiling and are jumping ship.  Jon Stewart on his Daily Show had a real funny clip the other day with President Obama clearly stating why it is bad policy to close the budget gap without additional revenues (taxes).  It's basic math.  What is more important, however, is what major credit rating agencies and financial analysts say about fixing our economic problem.  It was never just about the debt ceiling, but also about a long-term plan to reduce the deficit through cuts AND additional revenue (taxes).  Our economy?  Jobs?  Hello Washington D.C.?

What Now?

I find these polls amusing because they prove opinions rarely make their way into action.  If 82 percent of Americans disapprove, we should see a proportionate amount of public officials on their way out after the 2012 elections.  The time proven problem, however, is that most people who are regularly involved in elections love their representatives, but hate Congress as a whole.  Disconnect.  Vote the bums out I say.  Look at their record, not the advertisements or what you think of them as a person.  They work for you, so their performance must be up to your standards.  If you think they suck at their job, fire them.  

American citizen, THE POWER IS YOURS!

OK....I HAVE to include this guy too...