Based on the U.S. National Debt each American citizen contributed debt is $47,724.00. This does not mean that we are accruing debt our self this is a representative number of how much debt is comparison to all the American citizens (US Debt, 2011). According to the U.S. Social Security Office the average income for an American citizen is $41,673.83 (Social Security Administration, 2011). Although these statistics are loosely based the average is a sample. One could argue it is not accurate to the current economic standings although the debt values are. This explains why currently the approval rating for Congress is below 20% according to the new Gallup polls (Gallup, 2011). The Washington Post posted an article called, Poll: Voters say throw out entire Congress, where the writer explains that Americans are displeased by Congress and a high percentage wish they were all removed (The Washington Post, 2011). All of these statistics are pretty predictable considering the 112th Congress is filled with uncompromising members who value the census of their constituents over the importance of making good Public Policy. In addition, the loyalty is no longer focused on making good “Public Policy,” it lies with member’s political party. As a result members are unwilling to work together which leaves bills on hold and a lack of oversight. Presently, we are faced with a divided government and a President that has received many backlashes as a result of it. Republicans currently hold the majority of the House while the Senate is split. This has created a congress that has chosen not to work with one another and see compromise as a sign of weakness. The Washington Post article, Bipartisan group of senators to ... ... middle of paper ... ...r, M. (2011). Obama Challenges Congress on Job Plan. The New York Times . Pecquet, J. (2011). Cantor: Republicans agree there is 'too much income . The Hill . Social Security Administration. (2011, October 24). Automatic Determinations. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from U.S. Social Security Administration: http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/AWI.html The Washington Post. (2011). Poll: Voters say throw out entire Congress. The Washington Post . US Debt. (2011). National Debt. Retrieved from US Debt. Org: http://www.usdebtclock.org/ Wallsten, P. (2011, September). Bipartisan group of senators to push for larger deficit cuts. Retrieved October 27, 2011, from Washington Post: http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/2446222921.html?FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+9%2C+2011&author=Peter+Wallsten&desc=Bipartisan+group+of+senators+to+push+for+larger+deficit+cuts&free=1
Lofgren, Mike. The Party Is Over: How Republicans Went Crazy, Democrats Became Useless, and the Middle Class Got Shafted. New York: Viking, 2012. Print
Mann and Norman J. Ornstein argue that the Legislative branch is the most broken branch of government. Congress was designed by the Framers of the Constitution of the United States to be an independent and powerful party. The Framers wanted the Legislative branch to represent the vast diversity of people of the United States, to deliberate on important issues and policies, and to check and balance the other branches. However, Congress’s role in the American Constitutional System differs from the part it was meant to play. The authors argue that Congress has failed to fill its responsibilities to the people of the United States because of the division of the Democratic and Republican parties, which leaves little room for compromise and negotiation. Members of Congress focus on their own needs and interests, and will travel to far lengths to prove that their political party is the most powerful. Congress has turned a blind eye to the needs of the American people. Congress cannot succeed in getting the United States back on track unless they start to follow the rules dictated by the Framers of the Constitution. A vast series of decisions made by Congress, driven by Congress’s disregard for institutional procedures, its tendency to focus on personal ethics, and the overpowering culture of corruption, led to Congress failing to implement important changes in the United States
Davidson, Roger H., Walter J. Oleszek, and Frances E. Lee. Congress and Its Members. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2009. Print.
...ilities of Congress is that minorities and factions exist: dissent takes place, not disagreements. Verbal brawls take place rather than actual argumentation, and that is what kills democracy. That is why things never get done.
Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News. 6 Jan. 2010. Web. 16
Whether political polarization is good or bad for the nation is still up for debate, but the general consensus is it exists due to a variety of reasons. From the construction of our Constitution, it is clear that the intent of our founding fathers was to create opposition in order to prevent tyranny from prevailing. Polarization is a result of the dividing of a nation into political parties. Though polarization has fluctuated throughout the years, it has caused a great deal of trouble in regards to passing legislation and has resulted in a gridlocked Congress. Even though some fear congressional polarization is destined to get worse, “it is mathematically impossible for congress to get much more polarized” than it is now.
Skiba, Katherine. "House Republicans and Democrats Debate the Economy - US News and World Report." US News & World Report | News & Rankings | Best Colleges, Best Hospitals, and More. US News, 26 Feb. 2008. Web. 22 July 2011. .
The goal of the American government has always been the same through out the years. Although the government attempts to pursue common goals to improve the United States, citizens are not content due to them having to sacrifice individual values. US senate member, Chairman Michael McCaul, values order and equality by focusing on the security and the economy’s problems in the United States. When order and equality are implemented, individual freedom is given up. These values play important role in the way the government makes its laws in America. They have to take all these values into consideration due to the ever-enduring debate known as the, “Two Dilemmas of Government.”
Klarner, Carl E., Phillips, Justin H., and Muckler, Matt. “Overcoming Fiscal Gridlock: Institutions and Budget Bargaining.” Journal of Politics 74 (2012): 992-1009. EBSCO HOST
...“Obama Stokes Deficit Fight.” The Wall Street Journal Politics. The Wall Street Journal, n.d. Web. 6 June 2011. .
There is much debate in the United States whether or not there is polarization between our two dominate political parties. Presidential election results have shown that there is a division between the states; a battle between the Democratic blue states and the Republican red states. And what is striking is that the “colors” of these states do not change. Red stays red, and blue stays blue. Chapter 11 of Fault Lines gives differing views of polarization. James Wilson, a political science professor at Pepperdine University in California, suggests that polarization is indeed relevant in modern society and that it will eventually cause the downfall of America. On the contrast, Morris Fiorina, a political science professor at Stanford University, argues that polarization is nothing but a myth, something that Americans should not be concerned with. John Judis, a senior editor at The New Republic, gives insight on a driving force of polarization; the Tea Party Movement. Through this paper I will highlight the chief factors given by Wilson and Judis which contribute to polarization in the United States, and will consider what factors Fiorina may agree with.
“The Budget and Economic Outlook : Fiscal Years 2010 to 2020.” Congress of the United States
compromise. Jefferson’s account suggests the growing divide, showing that without a mediator, the ideologies are too far divided to achieve legisla...
Robinson, Dan. “108th U.S. Congress Nears End of Its Term.” Voice of America. 22 Nov. 2004, Washington, D.C. 22 Nov. 2004. <http://www.voanews.com/english/2004-11-22-voa52.cfm>.
Light, Paul C., and Christine L. Nemacheck. "Chapter 7 Congress." Government by the People, Brief 2012 Election Edition, Books a La Carte New Mypoliscilab With Etext Access Card Package. By David B. Magleby. 2012 Election Edition ed. N.p.: Pearson College Div, 2013. N. pag. Print.