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The Spectacle Blog
No wonder American politics is a mess. Consider the gap between the governed and those who govern. According to a recent poll by Rasmussen Reports:
The founding document of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, states that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Today, however, just 21% of voters nationwide believe that the federal government enjoys the consent of the governed.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% disagree and say the government does not have the necessary consent. Eighteen percent (18%) of voters are not sure.
However, 63% of the Political Class think the government has the consent of the governed, but only six percent (6%) of those with Mainstream views agree.
Seventy-one percent (71%) of all voters now view the federal government as a special interest group, and 70% believe that the government and big business typically work together in ways that hurt consumers and investors.
That helps explain why 75% of voters are angry at the policies of the federal government, and 63% say it would be better for the country if most members of Congress are defeated this November. Just 27% believe their own representative in Congress is the best person for the job.
The disagreement can’t get much more stark than this. Those in charge say they are ruling with the people’s consent. Those being ruled say it ain’t so.
Looks like it is time for a (non-violent) revolution against Uncle Sam!
View all comments (39) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Doug Bandow
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/02/27/uncle-sam-ruling-without-the-c
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Jim Hlavac | 2.27.10 @ 9:15AM
No Uncle of mine ever told me what to do, nor took my money, nor was quick to accuse me of being against him for thinking for myself. Indeed, several of my Uncles helped get me ahead -- not push me down or behind.
It's time to rescue our kind Uncle Sam from the clutches of the body snatchers, purse snatchers, and money grabbers who royally rule from on high like the Louix of France, to which they look for guidance. They have grabbed Our Uncle Sam and stuck him in a basement somewhere, and put in his evil twin Poppa Marx.
It's a horror flick right out of Hollywood.
Bob| 2.27.10 @ 9:27AM
The article also says this:
"Sixty percent (60%) of voters think that neither Republican political leaders nor Democratic political leaders have a good understanding of what is needed today. Thirty-five percent (35%) say Republicans and Democrats are so much alike that an entirely new political party is needed to represent the American people."
That's certainly my group..... So, if you agree with the poll why are you so partisan???????
Troll Watch| 2.27.10 @ 11:45AM
Bob has declared this web site irrelevant many times in the past. We are nothing and yet here he is still blessing us with his ignorant presence. It never occurs to Bob that his behavior presents a logical contradiction to what he says. I find it amusing that what social liberals mean by diversity is a world where all people think exactly alike. The only thing that is important is the proper mixture of skin tones and a number of people who use bodily orifices in an unhealthy fashion. There is no place for the American Spectator in Bob's ideal world. Bob should go spend his time at a like minded web site. Might I recommend a Log Cabin Republican site if there is such a thing. Bob would fit right in. They would really like his gay war stories. This is the pathetic life of a troll. They spend their time trying to hump other people's legs and receiving their well deserved kicks.
Bob| 2.27.10 @ 12:27PM
So I take it you are a religious extremist? Why don't you join your fundamentalist Muslim brothers?
Of course, if you were logical, you'd see that responding to someone you consider a "homo troll", makes you even more pathetic than you consider me.
You've proven again that the Republican party has been taken over by religious extremists and and fiscal conservatism is not understood or practiced. Thanks...
Troll Watch| 2.27.10 @ 1:43PM
I guess this is the last we will hear from "logical" Bob. He must be off to greener pastures. I'll miss all his shallow web searches and factual errors. Wait, I've seen this before. He just can't quit us.
ZerObama| 2.27.10 @ 2:57PM
Bad visual! No Brokeback references, please.
Troll Watch| 2.27.10 @ 3:18PM
For Bob it seemed appropriate. It is the only Brokeback reference I know so it won't happen again.
ZerObama | 2.27.10 @ 3:35PM
Sorry, I just couldn't bear to juxtapose the two. Thanks for your rapid response. lol
martin j smith| 2.27.10 @ 10:24AM
90% of American voter think that Big Government is taking their rights away.
99% of voters who did not vote Obama and 67% of those who did regret Obama is president and oppose his healthcare ideas
125% of voters believe that the Democrat Party is dangerous to our country. Like all trolls, who are Democrat left Supporters like Obama himself, making things up as one goes along is habitual.
Let me say finally, that while I certainly exaggerated numbers big time my results are much closer to the truth than yours.
And by the way even people at CNN and other Left media types admitted Obama and Dems lost the debate, Repubs won.
Get the picture Bob ?
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.27.10 @ 11:14AM
Well,
I'm very fortunate to have congress critters I truly respect in my district/State. Rep John Culberson is just great, and very approachable. John Cornyn is a fine Senator, though I could wish he could blow more fire at the rascals he serves with.
Perfect men? Of course not. Good men, trying to represent us unrepresentable Texans? You betcha.
Heh,
That is the reason I have time to be a buttinski in other races around the country.
Margie| 2.27.10 @ 12:27PM
I'd welcome you as a fellow buttinski here in NJ
any day, Ken!
If Chris Christie means what he says and keeps his word, the people in my state will see that there can be a good level of trust and will hopefully start voting for more Republicans.
THAT is a hopeful thing!
You're right. There are no perfect candidates, none of us will be made perfect till we get to Heaven (by the Grace of God).
But there are VERY favorable signs everywhere. And for that, I am rejoicing!
Oldefarte| 2.27.10 @ 11:18AM
This is precisely WHY voters should defeat most Democrats [and some Republicans as well] in November+. These congressmen simply [post election] fly off to Washington DC, knell down before their respective party leaders and kiss their [????] RINGS, and say TO HELL WITH their constituents that gave them their jobs. It's time to reverse this!!!!
Pingback| 2.27.10 @ 11:24AM
Uncle Sam: Ruling Without the Consent of the Governed « Collingswood Republicans Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.27.10 @ 2:13PM
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.27.10 @ 1:58PM
(pasted from the article comments "The Fourth Rail")
Thank you, God.....
For lousy self-serving government cry-baby do nothings with a life-long sense of entitlement.
Forgive us, Father, if we dread worst...a bureaucrat "from the gubmint...here to help us".
Finally, Father, help us elect a congress whose first law passed is a ten to fifteen percent cut in government payrolls, (and benefits), per year....forever.
Amen
ZerObama | 2.27.10 @ 2:58PM
Amen, brother!
Larry| 2.27.10 @ 2:58PM
If this poll shows anything, it shows a great deal of confusion by the people polled as to the question of whether the two parties are different from one another. I think the two parties are more different than people think, specifically from the frame of reference of their respective approaches to constitutional government. Part of the problem has been "me too Republicanism" for many years, which has created an environment which made many of our current problems possible.
Bob, I was also disappointed to read in another of your posts that you voted for Obama. It is evident the country is far the poorer for his Presidency. One must consider the "lesser of evils" approach when voting. I would have expected more of you.
We must all realize that it is a major contradiction these days to be a "fiscal conservative" and a "social liberal." I don't believe anyone can square the two, especially when you consider issues like health care and the consequences of the social liberalism in the larger culture. So be it, everyone has their own point of view. But be mindful of the consequences. And stop the name calling, everyone!
ZerObama| 2.27.10 @ 3:01PM
'Not so smart' Bob is also a staunch defender of Globaloney Warming.
Troll Watch| 2.27.10 @ 3:29PM
A couple of weeks ago 'Not so smart' sent us to a web site to make some pro man caused global warming point using a graph on the site. The site was actually the site of that of a "denier", Roy Spencer. It was classic Bob. Sometimes his shallow web searches turn up good things.
ZerObama| 2.27.10 @ 3:39PM
You are in rare form today, T-Watch--thanks for the laughs on this (no globaloney-warming in sight) rainy day.
Bob| 2.27.10 @ 3:39PM
Larry, let me address several of your points. First of all, while the rhetoric is different between the parties, actions and results are not much different. Take a look at the 8 years of Bush where there was actually more growth in government than under Clinton. Do you reward a party for such irresponsibility by voting for them again? What message does that send.
The reason I voted for Obama is that I could not stand the pick of Palin. I was initially intrigued by her success in Alaska, but that all went away when she didn't have prepared text to read and knew so little about our country and our government. If McCain chose her, I really question his judgment. Many of you vote Republican because of the abortion issue, but I am pro-choice so on social issues I'm more aligned with Democrats. This was not a difficult decision for me.
As for not being able to see the logic in being a fiscal conservative and a social libertarian (not really liberal), that is much more consistent than being a fiscal conservative and social conservative. Why? Because both fiscal conservatism and social libertarianism depend on limited government and true liberty. Social conservatives want government to intervene on social issues -- and that is more government, not less government. I'm always surprised by how little social conservatives know about economics. They believe that tax cuts are stimulative even though there is no macroeconomic evidence that is true. They believe that local anecdotes add up to macro truths. I liken this to the flat earth -- i.e., if you look out your front door the earth looks flat, but it isn't. With tax cuts, the argument is the more you give to the private sector, the more they will invest in growth. But a study of inflation adjusted GDP says that is just not true just as looking at the earth from space tells you the world is not flat.
You seem to think that social liberalism and social libertarianism are the same -- they are not. One says the society should take care of you and the other says that society should just stay out of your way. I want individuals to make decision, not government, which means even in the case of abortion or gay marriage.
With respect to global warming, we have another flat earth scenario with social conservatives. They just don't look at the data and don't understand basic mathematics. They think that since there is a lot of snow, we must not have global warming. However, there is not much snow and a lot of warmth in Vancouver -- why is that? The facts are that temperatures have increased (using regression analysis) over the past few centuries. There are periods where you see a temperature drop as in the early 1900's and about 1950 which lasted 10-15 years, but that does not negate the longer term trend. However, that doesn't mean we should go out of our way to do something about it. The evidence does not prove that the increases were caused by man to any great extent. The rise in CO2 levels is huge, but I have yet to see any strong connection that has to do with temperatures other than they move in the same direction. Mathematicians will tell you that it doesn't mean they are causal in nature -- it may just be coincidence. Therefore, to spend significant funds against this coincidence doesn't make logical sense. But I would propose that the globe is still in a warming phase given long term regressions on the data.
ZerObama| 2.27.10 @ 3:53PM
Bob is a bigot, pure and simple. No way to put lipstick on this pig!
Troll Watch| 2.27.10 @ 6:00PM
What a goofball. Conservatives realize that there is variation in temperature data. It is all about whether man caused it or not. There has been a lot of fun with the weather this year but only because the Obama side has used any warm weather, hurricane, cold weather, rainy weather, dry weather, fire, tornado and you get the picture to make phony claims over the last ten years I can't remember Bob saying anything about those claims. This is the kind of criticism that demonstrates only a desire to take a shot at religious conservatives. This all goes back to his position on gay marriage. He is very one dimensional if you observe him.
He picked the Obama ticket because of Joe Biden. He is the dumbest troll on the planet.
ZerObama| 2.27.10 @ 8:25PM
Bob loathes social conservatives and believers, and that's the REAL reason he has such contempt for Sarah Palin.
Oldefarte| 2.28.10 @ 10:50AM
Oh, Bob, you have obviously never read college economics [or financial] textbooks, have you? Ever possibly heard of the MULTIPLIER effect upon economic growth coming from TAX CUTS/REDUCTIONS coming from government??????????
Ballard| 3.1.10 @ 1:25AM
Have to disagree Larry. Both parties are unwilling to reign in federal spending. The evidence from the past decade supports that claim. At one time or another both parties held majorities in Congress and thereby had the necessary means to reduce spending. It didn't happen. Pork, whether in Republican bacon or Democrat link sausage is still pork.
Nobama| 3.1.10 @ 4:33AM
Difference is we on the Right punish our big spenders--you Leftists reward yours.
We ARE different from you!
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.27.10 @ 4:09PM
Hi Larry,
I have only seen your monker here recently. Welcome to the conversation.
Please forgive us for giving "Bob" a hard time. He has been around a long time...a looooong time, spouting contradictions of himself and everyone else...at long lengths...looooong lengths.
To put lipstick on it, facts and history get sort of confused in his mind, but he always has "data".
GIGO. heh
Margie| 2.28.10 @ 12:13AM
What Liberals Believe:
http://www.pjtv.com/video/Klav.....ypes/3155/
Lucius Severus Pertinax| 2.28.10 @ 5:08AM
Re: Manmade Global Warming...
The fact is, we are in the middle of an inter-glacial period; quite a mild one, as such things go.
120,000 years ago the Earth was in the middle of a REAL inter-glacial period, where the level of the sea was some 120 feet higher than it is now. Meaning, for example, that there WAS no Florida.. and not much in the way of Louisiana in stock , either.
The human population of that time, Archaic Homo Sapiens and Neanderthal together, amounted to perhaps two million individuals.. and not a single ONE of them drove an SUV!
Pingback| 2.28.10 @ 7:52AM
ObamaCare fast forward… « Time for Thorns links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Falcon| 2.28.10 @ 11:44AM
What's with all the polls and blogs and handwringing, anyway? If you want action, take action! I want to see a federal lawsuit challenging the Government's ability to control the things they do under the Constitution (and don't give me any baloney about the Commerce Clause or the Supremacy Clause - even the Devil can quote Scripture to his own purpose). My take on it is that Article 1, Section 8 does not give Congress the blanket power it now enjoys, and there has to be some attorney or group of attorneys out there who are ready for this to come to an end, and will file a Federal lawsuit to that effect. Come on, people, stop being "spectators" and start being participants!
Richard Baker| 2.28.10 @ 7:08PM
And the Founding Father's solution to this sort of state of affairs was what when executed by King George III? Keep your powder dry and hatchet scoured, my fellow countrymen.
Pingback| 3.1.10 @ 6:09AM
Natural Skin Care Tips that can Never go Wrong | Meet With Cindy.. | Skin Care Beauty links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Office 2007 Professional | 3.1.10 @ 8:20AM
very good
Rod Stanton| 3.1.10 @ 9:36AM
Unless you are saying that like in 1960, when a few hundred dead men crawled out of their graves and won the election for JFK, the last election was stolen; we are being governed by our own consent. We elected these men. It may be that we had to pick between 2 sets of liberals; but we did pick. The American voters put these men in office, they did not put themselves there.
The polls only show them to be unpopular, not governing without consent!
BTW we have had unpopular liberals running the country for 8 years. The MSN/DNC made similar claims from 01 - 05.. The lefty GWB was elected by the people he, like the current lefties, did not steal the election.