What do you think politicians should do when their constituents want inconsistent things?

[Infohawk]

"The average voter wants more government spending, less taxes, and a balanced budget." That's a joke I heard a political scientist tell. There's at least a grain of truth in that many voters seem to want contradictory things.

What do you think politicians should do in terms of policy? In terms of spin they say they want the same things, but at the end of the day what kind of policies should they push?

 

[amdhunter]

I'd be happy with more government spending, less taxes and a balanced budget, just like Clinton did during his Presidency.

 

[MotF Bane]

Less taxes and less spending.

 

[Kirby]

Tax the other person.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: MotF Bane
Less taxes and less spending.

 

[newnameman]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: MotF Bane
Less taxes and less spending.

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: amdhunter
I'd be happy with more government spending, less taxes and a balanced budget, just like Clinton did during his Presidency.

Clinton raised taxes.

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: MotF Bane
Less taxes and less spending.

 

[gingermeggs]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
"The average voter wants more government spending, less taxes, and a balanced budget." That's a joke I heard a political scientist tell. There's at least a grain of truth in that many voters seem to want contradictory things.

What do you think politicians should do in terms of policy? In terms of spin they say they want the same things, but at the end of the day what kind of policies should they push?

It's kind of like listening to girls talk about what they want in a man!

-strong, but emotionally compassionate,tender and caring!
funny, but responsible and ambitious!

What they should do is tell the truth and have priorities which ration and balance things to get the best overall outcome for the majority of the population!

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: gingermeggs

Originally posted by: Infohawk
"The average voter wants more government spending, less taxes, and a balanced budget." That's a joke I heard a political scientist tell. There's at least a grain of truth in that many voters seem to want contradictory things.

What do you think politicians should do in terms of policy? In terms of spin they say they want the same things, but at the end of the day what kind of policies should they push?

It's kind of like listening to girls talk about what they want in a man!

-strong, but emotionally compassionate,tender and caring!
funny, but responsible and ambitious!

What they should do is tell the truth and have priorities which ration and balance things to get the best overall outcome for the majority of the population!

Or even Lie and have the right Priorities. The Priorities are the most important part.

 

[charrison]

You mean people in general want free stuff and dont want to pay for it. Shocking.

 

[Brovane]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
"The average voter wants more government spending, less taxes, and a balanced budget." That's a joke I heard a political scientist tell. There's at least a grain of truth in that many voters seem to want contradictory things.

What do you think politicians should do in terms of policy? In terms of spin they say they want the same things, but at the end of the day what kind of policies should they push?

Unfortunately you get what you currently have which is lots deficit spending. Eventually the music is going have to stop. Most politicians push any policy that will get them votes. Look at the Politicians falling all over themselves to keep the C-17 in production. The military and Sec of Defense have stated repeatedly that they have enough C-17's and they don't need anymore. So what does congress do they jam 10 more C-17's into the budget at the cost of several billion. It looks like the continued production of the C-17 could jeopardize the upgrades of the C-5B into the C-5M. The military wants the C-5M not more C-17's.

 

[miketheidiot]

more taxes more spending

 

[First]

Americans want less gov't spending until it comes to their locale or district. That's well known by now.

 

[LunarRay]

The first most important thing in the mind of a politician is to stay in office. So they should determine what will provide that support and adopt that as their point of view. It is what we want and what they want... It don't sound very Representative to support what your constituents don't want. Being consistent is not a means to the end... imo.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: LunarRay
The first most important thing in the mind of a politician is to stay in office. So they should determine what will provide that support and adopt that as their point of view. It is what we want and what they want... It don't sound very Representative to support what your constituents don't want. Being consistent is not a means to the end... imo.

Yes, give the people free stuff paid for by other people. That works well until you run out of people to pay for the free stuff.

 

[gingermeggs]

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: gingermeggs

Originally posted by: Infohawk
"The average voter wants more government spending, less taxes, and a balanced budget." That's a joke I heard a political scientist tell. There's at least a grain of truth in that many voters seem to want contradictory things.

What do you think politicians should do in terms of policy? In terms of spin they say they want the same things, but at the end of the day what kind of policies should they push?

It's kind of like listening to girls talk about what they want in a man!

-strong, but emotionally compassionate,tender and caring!
funny, but responsible and ambitious!

What they should do is tell the truth and have priorities which ration and balance things to get the best overall outcome for the majority of the population!

Or even Lie and have the right Priorities. The Priorities are the most important part.

Lying leads to authoritarianism, whether its covert like the current USA capitalism or state communism like china.

 

[gingermeggs]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: LunarRay
The first most important thing in the mind of a politician is to stay in office. So they should determine what will provide that support and adopt that as their point of view. It is what we want and what they want... It don't sound very Representative to support what your constituents don't want. Being consistent is not a means to the end... imo.

Yes, give the people free stuff paid for by other people. That works well until you run out of people to pay for the free stuff.

Plenty of people around wish they had to pay high marginal tax rates!
so if one punter rolls over because its pissed off- like retires well off- it creates an opportunity for someone else to "take a risk".
Getting rid of political contributions would do more for democracy then removing welfare safety nets, like it's nice to walk down the street in relative safety and not get killed for your gold watch.

 

[LunarRay]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: LunarRay
The first most important thing in the mind of a politician is to stay in office. So they should determine what will provide that support and adopt that as their point of view. It is what we want and what they want... It don't sound very Representative to support what your constituents don't want. Being consistent is not a means to the end... imo.

Yes, give the people free stuff paid for by other people. That works well until you run out of people to pay for the free stuff.

It do indeed! So the government ought to find ways to get more money. Perhaps creative ways. The more folks not needing free stuff the less we need to provide it. Maybe the government could debt finance public works stuff and maybe terminate NAFTA and the WTO and tariff stuff imported that we make here.
I don't think free stuff is a problem until, as you say, we run out of the providers.

 

[totalnoob]

Print more money = everybody wins

 

[Skitzer]

"What do you think politicians should do in terms of policy? In terms of spin they say they want the same things, but at the end of the day what kind of policies should they push?"


Hey how about this concept ....... why don't they fulfill their campaign promises? Isn't that what the majority elected them to do in the first place?

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: LunarRay

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: LunarRay
The first most important thing in the mind of a politician is to stay in office. So they should determine what will provide that support and adopt that as their point of view. It is what we want and what they want... It don't sound very Representative to support what your constituents don't want. Being consistent is not a means to the end... imo.

Yes, give the people free stuff paid for by other people. That works well until you run out of people to pay for the free stuff.

It do indeed! So the government ought to find ways to get more money. Perhaps creative ways. The more folks not needing free stuff the less we need to provide it. Maybe the government could debt finance public works stuff and maybe terminate NAFTA and the WTO and tariff stuff imported that we make here.
I don't think free stuff is a problem until, as you say, we run out of the providers.

The only problem is nafta has easily been net positive for the US. And tariffs will cause just as many problems as they create. Notice tire prices are already rising. Consumers will pay more for tires to protect a few jobs, and that is going to be a net loss for this country. Much like steel tariffs from the previous admin.

 

[piasabird]

Tell them the republicans will not let you do it.

 

[cyclohexane]

Invade another country when we need more money.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: MotF Bane
Less taxes and less spending.

What percentage of the budget do you think you can cut?

Mandatory spending which is mostly Medicare and Social Security, and makes up half of the budget?

National security which includes homeland security, Veterans, and an overwhelming amount for defense, and makes up 1/3 of the budget?

If you're serious about cutting spending, those places are where you have to look.

In conclusion, neither major party is serious about cutting spending.