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wickerwoman

(5,662 posts)
74. Let me put it this way...
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 01:19 PM
Dec 2012

do you want your brain surgery performed by someone who does a two year rotation and then goes on to something else, or do you want it performed by someone who has done the same job for 30-40-50 years?

I think we forget in America that legislating- creating laws that have huge impacts on millions of peoples' lives- actually involves a bit more than writing your first thoughts down on a piece of paper and screaming bloody murder until everyone else accepts them. You need to understand the technical side of the issue, understand people's values in respect of it, forecast what the future impact will be, weigh all of the possible alternatives to see if your proposal is the most efficient and effective, understand how the proposal will sit within the context of other federal laws, state laws and international treaties and obligations, call on a network that can take decades to develop to find support, know how to negotiate effectively for a good outcome, etc.

Why do we have gridlock in Congress? Because we elect yahoos every two years whose only priority is getting reelected- not on proposing real solutions, learning about and understanding the issues in an intellectually honest way, working together, learning from the mistakes, building relationships, etc.

We had more effective governance before the fad for term limits came in in the 1990s. If the people wanted to elect Roosevelt ten times in a row that should have been their prerogative.

I would, except I am banned. Downwinder Dec 2012 #1
thats why multiple email addresses come in handy :-) rdking647 Dec 2012 #2
why did you abandon your other thread moments after you created it? CreekDog Dec 2012 #4
since i was resoundly ripped as a "rethug" etc rdking647 Dec 2012 #6
you act surprised, but you were careless in your post, blaming Pelosi and Reid CreekDog Dec 2012 #13
i blame both sides rdking647 Dec 2012 #14
uh huh CreekDog Dec 2012 #49
from Whitehouse.gov? Christ, what the hell did you POST there? Ken Burch Dec 2012 #48
I just suggested that if there were any cuts in SS or Medicare Downwinder Dec 2012 #59
So only rich folks can serve long term in Congress? exboyfil Dec 2012 #3
they can have 401k's like everyone else rdking647 Dec 2012 #7
All public sector jobs should be like that. former-republican Dec 2012 #8
you're against pensions for government workers? CreekDog Dec 2012 #10
oh, but maybe you aren't a former republican former-republican Dec 2012 #15
not all by myself CreekDog Dec 2012 #17
This is where I stand on pensions in the public sector former-republican Dec 2012 #22
many government workers aren't allowed to invest like private sector workers CreekDog Dec 2012 #23
If it's a 401 k former-republican Dec 2012 #25
but there are limits to how much one can put in a 401k per year CreekDog Dec 2012 #26
I'm not following you , Do you mean the tax reasons ? former-republican Dec 2012 #29
wow, seems like you don't know what you're talking about --and recommending do you? CreekDog Dec 2012 #47
No shit Einstein former-republican Dec 2012 #55
Can invest, but can't go in and out quickly, elleng Dec 2012 #80
That only applies to him and people in his type of positions -other agencies have other requirements CreekDog Dec 2012 #84
First of all, there's a huge difference liberalhistorian Dec 2012 #30
I include everybody in the public sector former-republican Dec 2012 #32
law enforcement in that, whose jobs often leave people physically and/or mentally drained former-republican Dec 2012 #37
federal government workers have been paying in to social security hfojvt Dec 2012 #90
Except that it isn't "provided by taxpayers". liberalhistorian Dec 2012 #28
That's a load of bull , government pensions far exceed what they ever pay into them former-republican Dec 2012 #31
Yeah, you go ahead and tell my mother that, liberalhistorian Dec 2012 #68
When I worked in State Govt WinniSkipper Dec 2012 #73
Our pension contributions are invested in markets elleng Dec 2012 #82
seems like you two believe the exact same non-democratic policy CreekDog Dec 2012 #50
Members of Congress are paid $174,000 a year. Xithras Dec 2012 #58
For the $174K they have to maintain two homes exboyfil Dec 2012 #62
They "have to live their lives"? former9thward Dec 2012 #75
They don't need any pensions. Their benefactors give them a job or golden parachute. PSPS Dec 2012 #5
So instead of pushing for PRIVATE sector employees to get decent pensions, you want to screw PUBLIC MotherPetrie Dec 2012 #34
Huh? I was replying to the OP. PSPS Dec 2012 #44
add getting rid of their health care while serving and afterwards nt msongs Dec 2012 #9
I don't understand why folks like Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders should lose pension and health care CreekDog Dec 2012 #12
No... Joe Walsh, Of Tea Party Fame, Should Get 2 Years Worth Of Pension... WillyT Dec 2012 #11
Actually, Joe Walsh, of Eagle's fame, should get more pension than the Joe Walsh madinmaryland Dec 2012 #24
LOL !!! - Good Joe v. Bad Joe... WillyT Dec 2012 #38
Good Joe pays all of his hotel bills (even though he doesn't remember them), the Bad madinmaryland Dec 2012 #43
Did you mean "pension" or "prison"? Bozita Dec 2012 #45
While I support pensions for congress, it should take longer than 1 term to be vested. Gidney N Cloyd Dec 2012 #67
Congressional pensions are Silver Swan Dec 2012 #83
Absolutely not. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #16
thank you CreekDog Dec 2012 #18
Yes. We have a war on public workers. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #20
yes, that's a big problem CreekDog Dec 2012 #21
Yep. I wonder at times. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #39
These are not "public workers," they're elected officials. Jeff In Milwaukee Dec 2012 #27
They are public workers too. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #40
No. They really aren't. Jeff In Milwaukee Dec 2012 #64
Pensions for Civil Service employees? Sure. Firefighters and police officers? former-republican Dec 2012 #42
i think everybody deserves a proper pension CreekDog Dec 2012 #46
But that's not the case , is it ...Some are better than others...and it seems you approve former-republican Dec 2012 #56
i don't think taking away pensions from public workers is the way to make it fair CreekDog Dec 2012 #57
I think I made my self quite clear former-republican Dec 2012 #60
here's where you call someone elitist because they pay $3000/month for health insurance CreekDog Dec 2012 #61
So do you care to address my question or not? Are you one of the nobles former-republican Dec 2012 #72
Because... Jeff In Milwaukee Dec 2012 #63
why do all workers deserve a pension rdking647 Dec 2012 #70
Or change their pension to social security payments Matariki Dec 2012 #19
You obviously have no idea how the system works MotherPetrie Dec 2012 #35
You obviously missed my point. Matariki Dec 2012 #85
I don't believe in term limits and believe all people that work should have a pension. TheKentuckian Dec 2012 #33
Hell no I'm not signing such an asinine pension MotherPetrie Dec 2012 #36
How about banning them from becoming lobbyists kentauros Dec 2012 #41
yes this, and for doing so, i'm happy to offer a pension for their service CreekDog Dec 2012 #52
I can go there... Jeff In Milwaukee Dec 2012 #66
It would be better to have a petition calling on Congress Ken Burch Dec 2012 #51
Yes, let's penalise people who are called to public service. wickerwoman Dec 2012 #53
It's hard to tell if you're being sarcastic or describing how it ACTUALLY WORKS. Jeff In Milwaukee Dec 2012 #65
it would be better than one run by people who have been in their jobs 30-40-50 years rdking647 Dec 2012 #71
Let me put it this way... wickerwoman Dec 2012 #74
you just asked for Pelosi to resign, do you want the discharge position she started to be stopped? CreekDog Dec 2012 #78
Rick Perry is drawing his pension while he's governor LeftInTX Dec 2012 #54
How would one attract the best and brightest (cough) w/o benefits? lonestarnot Dec 2012 #69
Think of your petition as a corruption guarantee. aquart Dec 2012 #76
Hell no! They would take Federal employees down with them! forestpath Dec 2012 #77
the OP and other posters don't want pensions for public employees CreekDog Dec 2012 #79
I know and I would like to know WTF they are doing on a board for DEMOCRATS! forestpath Dec 2012 #86
working to cause division CreekDog Dec 2012 #87
i dont want pensions for elected officials rdking647 Dec 2012 #88
The difference isn't measured by job title former-republican Dec 2012 #89
kicked, recommended and facebooked, thanks Faux pas Dec 2012 #81
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