Can Congress be trusted to protect our interests ?

[kentuck]

Or even to protect our homes and family ?

The way they were hoodwinked into following Bush on everything he proposed, including invading the country of Iraq, makes me think they are not capable of doing the job they signed up to do. They cannot be trusted. It's as simple as that.

Most of them are nothing more than bagmen for the corporations and are looking to maintain their own little corners of power. Most are out of touch with the average man. We must ask, what benefit are they to us? Would we not be better off to simply leave the present laws in place and send them all home to Momma?

[htuttle]

1. No, they can't

What government *is* and what government is *supposed to be* are miles and miles apart. It has very little to do with any notions of 'social contract', 'good governance' or 'mutual welfare'.

It has everything to do with gangster politics. The mobsters are in charge, pure and simple.

[RufusEarl]

2. How much money does it cost to run for congress?

That's my first question. Let's say that it cost a million dollars to run for a congressional seat from Texas, and most campaign dollars are donated by a few special interest.

If a young congressman/woman finally make it to Washington, were does their allegiance lie. Not with the voters but with the people that gave money to get them to washington. That's why we have to get the money out of politics, plain and simple.

[kentuck]

5. It doesn't cost anything to "run" for Congress...

It might take a lot to win a seat in Congress. Maybe? But' I'm not so sure about that. There is such a thing as "free" media, to those that know how to use it.

[RufusEarl]

6. Perhaps i phrased my question wrong, try this!

How much money does it cost to win a congressional seat? But even if you don't win a seat, I still contend that if you run a serious campaign it will still cost @ one million dollars.

And we still need to remove money out of politics, it's the only way we'll ever get politicians that care about the people in their districts.

[kentuck]

7. I personally think the "money" part is over-rated...

Some money is needed but TV ads, where most of the money is spent, are highly over-rated. Most people ignore them, in my opinion. Get some print ads, some door-to-door hangers, a billboard if possible, and have as many meeting with the voters as possible is a better way to go, imo.

[liberal N proud]

3. HELL NO! they can not!

[spanone]

4. No, they can be trusted to protect their political interests. Nothing else