I honestly do not believe we will see any significant change until we start voting out incumbents.
I believe it was Howard Metzenbaum who said the biggest expense he had in his last few campaigns was postage...to send back the campaign contributions. He didn't need them since his re-election was such a lock.
Any time a government grants itself power it will never, ever willingly remove that power. Even if entire campaigns are run on removing that power, it rarely happens and then only when the people get sick of it.
As to your question, if you define 'we' as people who are tired of all the crap, here are some changes I would hope for. We'll never see them with the current administration, but I would like to see them:
1.) The complete repeal of the 'Patriot' Act. It is not unpatriotic to expect a semblance of privacy in the USA, or for law enforcement to have to prove their case. (Not in reference to Gitmo here - that's another subject)
2.) Pulling the teeth of the FCC. Six people with computers who can auto-generate messages, and who are responsible for over 99% of the complaints to the FCC, should not be able to dictate what I watch.
3.) Revamp the TSA. Any time you have an organization that deals with the public, but has no public scrutiny is a formula for disaster. I do not like being treated as if I am a criminal in my own country.
4.) Gear up NASA, as opposed to cutting it to the quick.
5.) On a wider scale, I would love to see religion removed from science classrooms. Comparative religion courses are fine, but trying to ramrod thinly disguised creationist garbage into a science classroom by calling it an 'alternative theory' is ludicrous. And yes, I know a Presidential Administration doesn't have a say in such things...but that's mainly because it would be political suicide.
6.) A straight up and down vote on Presidential nominees. I was for it when the Republicans wanted it, I for it now that it would benefit the democrats. Don't like a President's nominations? Vote in the next election and bring it someone who will clean house and appoint people you feel are better suited.
Those are six points that would make the 'we' I was referring to happy.
Now we just need to get both of us into positions of power. We'll get this crap straightened out over a regular weekend and two large pizzas, and have enough time to play some Dragon Age in the interim.
I believe it was Howard Metzenbaum who said the biggest expense he had in his last few campaigns was postage...to send back the campaign contributions. He didn't need them since his re-election was such a lock.
Any time a government grants itself power it will never, ever willingly remove that power. Even if entire campaigns are run on removing that power, it rarely happens and then only when the people get sick of it.
As to your question, if you define 'we' as people who are tired of all the crap, here are some changes I would hope for. We'll never see them with the current administration, but I would like to see them:
1.) The complete repeal of the 'Patriot' Act. It is not unpatriotic to expect a semblance of privacy in the USA, or for law enforcement to have to prove their case. (Not in reference to Gitmo here - that's another subject)
2.) Pulling the teeth of the FCC. Six people with computers who can auto-generate messages, and who are responsible for over 99% of the complaints to the FCC, should not be able to dictate what I watch.
3.) Revamp the TSA. Any time you have an organization that deals with the public, but has no public scrutiny is a formula for disaster. I do not like being treated as if I am a criminal in my own country.
4.) Gear up NASA, as opposed to cutting it to the quick.
5.) On a wider scale, I would love to see religion removed from science classrooms. Comparative religion courses are fine, but trying to ramrod thinly disguised creationist garbage into a science classroom by calling it an 'alternative theory' is ludicrous. And yes, I know a Presidential Administration doesn't have a say in such things...but that's mainly because it would be political suicide.
6.) A straight up and down vote on Presidential nominees. I was for it when the Republicans wanted it, I for it now that it would benefit the democrats. Don't like a President's nominations? Vote in the next election and bring it someone who will clean house and appoint people you feel are better suited.
Those are six points that would make the 'we' I was referring to happy.
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