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What is the single greatest thing we can do to make our government more efficient?

Senators and Congressman routinely squabble over petty issues and rarely get anything of importance done. What they do get done has been revised so much it is nearly impotent by the time it passes. This is mostly due to apathy on the part of the American people. It is the job of our representatives to care about what the people care about, but even this is not always the case. What can be done to wake the people up and get them to pay attention to what's happening in our capital? I, for one, would appreciate a daily listing of the topics that were discussed and an outline of the solutions that were presented. It should be clear and consise, and as simply and efficiently written as possible so that regular people won't have a hard time understanding it's contents.

Public Comments

1. Get rid of the so called "electoral vote".
2. Make them accountable by showing us on a daily basis what things are being done.
3. Vote in only Republicans.
4. Stop giving them access to unlimited amounts of money. Sure, it's not unlimited per se, but it is a HUGE amount.
5. honestly pay taxes..............on time
6. downsize, a new term to our sitting president
7. well, Frank Herbert (of the Dune series) had a character that worked for a govt agency called the Bureau of Sabatage...which basically made sure that the govt was not too efficient and well run....because a too well run govt usually leads to dictatorship and revolution....which is rarely good....
8. vote for the right people
9. We need to wake up ourselves, and we need to get involved with our government. More people need to send letters to their represenatives with their worries and communities need to rally and show their government, OUR government, that we have more important issues in this country than tax cuts and banning gay marriage(which I am against). The people need to get involved. Vote! Rally! Write letters! Show that we're involved and that we need a government for the people, by the people like our Constitution says, not rich senators and represenatives concerned with popularity.
10. Ha !Ha ! You must be kidding. How could we get rid of all the graft and corruption in Washington? Are you going to make bribery by lobbist illegal? Are you going to make it to where a Honest guy can get elected without 10 million dollars? It ain"T gonna Happen !!!!!!!!!!
11. I'd rather make it more effective. If I could make one change it would be to use government taxing power to empower "an opportunity-based" market system. Capitalism can't work to serve most needs (as opposed to wants) because our current market system is a wealth-based market that serves the demand of those who have money (or at least fungile resources). The poor, the future, and the environment, among others, don't have money and therefore can't have "demand". If one of government's main functions was to tax economic success and provide both comprehensive education and vouchers so that people could purchase vital services on a free market, we would probably be much beter off then we are today.
12. Why do you worry so much about government? There will always be good things and bad things in a democracy run by the majority. The most any of us can hope to change is about as far as our arms can stretch. Vote as you feel led, and live an upright life as an example for others. To think Congess can solve our problems and lament when they do not is fruitless. The best thing to do from time to time is declare a personal news-free week -- no news for a week...your attitude and perspective gets refreshed and positive. Perhaps the single best thing we can do is get new blood in Congress...I wholeheartedly disagree that service to the nation should be a career...2 terms and out...perhaps then, you would see some action and real debates about important issues and give others a chance to provide new ideas...rather than do anything to get re-elected.
13. Get off our lazy butts and VOTE. If a Senator or Congressman who represents your district does not vote according to his constituents wishes, they need to be ejected from their seat (a good swift kick would be appropriate)! I realize compromises sometimes need to be made BUT the ones I've seen line the pockets of well-paid lobbyists. Check the news - it's out there! There is a list, but it is so convoluted and complicated with legalese it's hard to understand what the bleep they are doing in there. I find it interesting that when they want us to vote for something they put it at the level a 4th grader can understand, but when it comes to accountability all of a sudden it's in legalese. I agree with your summation. (Big sigh. . . .) Thank you.
14. I watch CSPAN at least once a day, and a lot of time is wasted on silly procedural junk, another part is wasted going over and changing existing laws, still more is wasted by some parties pushing their reps. to introduce a new law that is in reaction to some wrong that has befallen them or a family member, even when ther is an existing law that already covers that problem. Still more time is shot by all the back patting, and or stabbing for political gain. Even more time is spent on their ever increasing greed for more tax money, to feed this insatiable monster we have allowed them to create. I have yet to see anything that all their so called wisdom has improved. We get less and less service for more and more money, I feel it would be best to eliminate the party system, so they do what's right insteed of what their group wants to to look better than the other party
15. Vote. There is our power, but few utilize it. Imagine if in every election there was 100% voter turnout. That would scare every politician, because then they would realize they were up against the masses, not just a small handful of people. We can blame them all we want, however it's our fault for not utilizing the power we have.
16. Make them have work to pay and not tax us 2 nations and a US state pay and do not tax their people Kuwait pays Dubai pays Alaska pays I know it's oil; but oil is just 1 commodity and there are thousands of commidities that can used instead with all the commodities in your state what the excuse for not paying you? With all the resources of the feds why can't they pay 50 times what Alaska pays?