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comment by NotPhil
NotPhil  ·  4056 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What can I as an individual American citizen do to affect the government shutdown?

Unfortunately, American congressmen cannot be recalled, so the only way to remove congressmen who are deliberately trying to break the democratic process would be through impeachment. While I suspect most Republicans would like to clean house and get rid of the Tea Partiers, I doubt they would attempt to do so this way.

I'm afraid the only thing you can do is remember to never vote to put someone who claims to hate government into the government. They just might be telling the truth.





b_b  ·  4055 days ago  ·  link  ·  

The mind blowing thing is that a lot of reporters have said that there are 100-150 GOP Congressmen who would vote to end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling if the vote was by secret ballot. They're afraid of being "primaried". Read: "I like my job waaaaay more than I like 1,000,000 public sector worker jobs and a functioning economy."

NotPhil  ·  4055 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    There are 100-150 GOP Congressmen who ... [a]re afraid of being "primaried".

I just read a description of a survey which indicated that almost 1/5 of the people who voted Republican in the last election are Tea Partiers and 1/4 are evangelicals. The Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot by appealing to these fringe groups.

thenewgreen  ·  4056 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    I'm afraid the only thing you can do is remember to never vote to put someone who claims to hate government into the government. They just might be telling the truth.
Well said NotPhil.
Keibler  ·  4056 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Now, I think that the same is obvious even if they don't say it. I have talked to/heard from people who have talked to reps and we all agree, there is maybe 1 I can think of off the top of my head I consider to be a good man.

thenewgreen  ·  4055 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Everyone hates congress but loves their congressman. That's the problem. They all capitulate on the hill and break, break, break. Then they come home to their districts and talk about how broken Washington is.

Keibler  ·  4054 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Oh man, you have no idea. I live in Indiana so I've had Mitch for 22 years and counting. If we try to get anything done it gets shot down because nothing ever gets done in congress for this reason. Hopefully later this month I will be able to go out to DC for a huge march and talk to some people but its doubtful.

thenewgreen  ·  4052 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Good luck, I appreciate your desire to effect change. Let me know if anything comes from the DC march. When is it scheduled? Any particular cause?

Keibler  ·  4051 days ago  ·  link  ·  

The DC march, or StopWatching.Us march is on Oct. 26. It will be the biggest to date march for internet privacy. It is gonna be amazing. If you can't go but would still love to see it, many cities are hosting live streams of it that day!