The Heritage Foundation - Leadership for America

October 28, 2009 Concerned writes:

Uggghhhh!!!! Afred E. Newman would be proud. I can imagine decades from now when this appears as a question on a game show. Hmmm, I guess there wouldn’t be any live game shows - just online.

October 28, 2009 RetCMS, Arizon writes:

The dates on the grant make it appear that the funding actually was assigned in 2004.

October 28, 2009 Diane Winkler, Papillion, NE writes:

Wonder if they will have congress member’s participation on C-Span? Is anyone surprised with this info? If so, he/she needs to get educated in reality. This is similar to the pay and benefits FORMER members get for life. I have challenged my reps to eliminate this waste. We will see.

October 29, 2009 Ike, Birmingham, AL writes:

They have an excellent idea, but in 180 degrees the wrong direction.

Bring them home permanently, and let them telecommute!

occamsrazr.com/2008/11/20/capitol-punishment/

October 29, 2009 Nelson Lee Walker, Saratoga, CA writes:

The only infallible, unstoppable, guaranteed way to get a truly new Congress is :
NEVER REELECT ANY INCUMBENT! AND DO IT EVERY ELECTION!

Voters must IMPOSE term limits by NEVER REELECTING INCUMBENTS , AND DO IT EVERY ELECTION! Don’t let anyone serve more than one term. Some of the reasons to do this:

• It gives us a one-term, term limited Congress without using amendments
• It would be supported by 70% of the country who want term limits for Congress
• It is completely non-partisan
• If repeated, it ends career politicians dominating Congress
• It opens the way to a “citizen Congress”
• It ends the seniority system that keeps freshmen powerless
• It doesn’t cost you any money. But you MUST vote! Just don’t vote for an incumbent
• It is the only guaranteed, infallible, unstoppable way to “Throw ALL the Bums Out”
• It takes effect immediately the day after Election Day
• If it doesn’t work, do it again and again! It will work eventually, I promise.

NEVER REELECT ANYONE IN CONGRESS. AND DO IT EVERY ELECTION!

nelson lee walker of tenurecorrupts.com

October 29, 2009 roger, newport beach, ca writes:

This problem can be solved by the exercise our most precious of rights. Vote out (2010 is not that far away)all the incumbents and push for term limits with the newly elected. A clean sweep for America.

October 29, 2009 Congress Studying How To Aovid Its Constituents « The Divine Lamp writes:

[...] Surprise!  The study showed that these manipulated townhall meetings increased the constituents’ approval of Congress members.  I guess holding townhall meetings in childrens’ hospitals to dodge questioning by angry constituents just wasn’t as effective or deceitful  as they had hoped.  See story. [...]

October 30, 2009 Congress Funds Study on How To Avoid Constituents, Stay in Office « Ramparts 360 writes:

[...] http://blog.heritage.org/2009/10/28/congress-funds-study-on-how-to-avoid-constituents-and-stay-in-of... [...]

October 30, 2009 Herb Vando, Orange Beach, Al writes:

I agree with Nelson Lee Walker of Ca.
What a great way to impose term limits. We MUST
not re-elect anyone anymore. Washington will finally get the message. Career politicians are
the cause of all the problems. Actually we are the cause of the problems by re-electing these
self serving individuals. We always think of
“our guy” as the good guy and point fingers at the other guys. It has to stop or we are doomed
as a nation. Reject dont re-elect.

October 31, 2009 John McClain, GySgt, USMC, Vanceboro, NC writes:

All of those advocating always electing fresh faces each and ever election, are echoing the founder’s thoughts, as they described the only way for Citizens to retain Sovereignty over their government.
The founders specifically intended to have only citizens in Congress and all other elected offices, and were horrified by the professional politician, as they had seen complicit in all the violations of their “natural rights” as British Subjects, but seen by the professionals, as “across the ocean, and too far away to matter in their opinion, and without any real vote”.
President Washington specified he would only serve one term, even though offered “Kingship”, because he said it was the legitimate means of maintaining a Sovereign Citizerny, and only accepted the second term, when leaders of congress convinced him that not enough precedent for the proper work of a president had been set, and no one but he, was capable of properly setting it. The accolades from around the world, at his death, proved the correctness of their vision.
Only when those in power must revert to citizens, and live under the laws they write, do they recognise they must make only such law as all can abide in good faith with. Since congress doesn’t participate in Social Security, it was never funded. Since they don’t participate in any health care of their own cost, they pay no attention to the cost of it to the rest of the Nation.
Since we find it more convenient to vote for an incumbent, than to choose a well qualified neighbor, and turn out each and every one at every election, incumbents are for sale, where freshmen are never for sale to any fruitful purpose.
We, The People, are responsible for keeping our federal government within the boundaries of the Constitution. Since we have failed to do so, we now have a central government instead of a federal government, and as a “central government”, it no longer answers to us, and has become, by its acts, a Fascist government, by doing and performing such acts as only a fascist government will.
It is not their fault we elected criminals into congress, it is our fault, for failing to be “Sovereign Citizens”, noting we have both sovereignty, and the full responsibility of our Nation upon our shoulders. There can be no Authority over anything, without an equal amount of responsibility comensurate with the authority. We can delegate our authority, as we do when we elect representatives, however the responsibility remains on our own shoulders, and if we do not exercise it, we are not acting as sovereign, but as “subjects” of the government. If we choose to be such, we deserve the oppressive atmosphere we currently live in, and deserve it until the day we take up our natural responsibility, and fulfill it.
We have the government we allowed to coalesce while we ignored their manifold crimes and violations of oaths, Constitution, and law, and held them as leaders, rather than as public servants, which are more appropriate for Sovereign Citizens, who by definition, are the leaders. If we wish our Confederated Republic, we shall have to remake it, by our own authority, with our own actions, against an entrenched professional class of politicians who like to be in charge, and have no desire to be servants. Until we do so, we gravitate ever towards totalitarianism. We have the government we have chosen by default.
Sincerely,
John McClain
GySgt, USMC, ret.
Vanceboro, NC

November 2, 2009 Robin, Kentucky writes:

This is a non-partisan plan to replace the politicians. If enough people join, this could become a LEGITIMATE party.
It makes sense.
It’s worth a look.
“Get Out Of Our House” - http://www.goooh.com

November 3, 2009 Jeff Bourget writes:

RETCMS has it right. Check out the date on that grant, it was awarded in 2004. If my memory serves, the Congress was run by Republicans then. Further, the trailer on this post says that comments are subject to approval and moderation. Seems that the Heritage Foundation approves of editing the discussion when they hold the forum.

November 3, 2009 Congress Used Taxpayer-Funded Study on How to Avoid Constituents « The Foxhole writes:

[...] The lesson: avoid your constituents’ inconvenient questions and your approval ratings will rise. http://blog.heritage.org/2009/10/28/congress-funds-study-on-how-to-avoid-constituents-and-stay-in-of... [...]

November 3, 2009 Vicky, Macon writes:

Thank-you GySgt McClain for your thoughtful cogent comments. Well put and I could not agree more.

November 3, 2009 Charles Huddleston, Linn Creek, MO writes:

There is a simple solution which will also reduce governmental spending.

Create a selective service system to replace elections. representatives will be chosen by lot and should be treated like “draftees”: low pay, constant supervision,one two-year term with no extension of service and no pensions. This will reduce costs, help eliminate corruption,and give constituents better control over their representatives. Our present system of allowing perpetual tenure to senators and representatives assumes that there is only an elite group of people in each district or state who are capable of representing their constituency. There is no question that the framers of our constitution
did not intend that our representatives should be “career politicians”, but should briefly serve their constituency and then return to their civilian lives. Clearly, our present system is not working. As a “drafted” veteran, I would have been glad to serve my country and my constituency in the manner mentioned above. I am also confident that I could do as good or better job than those now in office without 30 or 40 staff members to assist me.

November 3, 2009 Congress Funds Study on How To Avoid Constituents, Stay in Office writes:

[...] Funds Study on How To Avoid Constituents, Stay in Office Congress Funds Study on How To Avoid Constituents, Stay in Office The Foundry The story is short but important to know. [...]

November 3, 2009 Ralph, Irving Tx writes:

I will never again vote for an incumbent at the national level. I will never again vote for “the lesser of two evils.” They are corrupt to the core and do not understand the difference between a democracy and a republic.

November 3, 2009 Clarence, Northern California writes:

Right on, Gunney! It’s our, “The People’s”, fault that we have a malfunctioning government loaded with self-serving politicians. As I was told when I joined the Corps long ago, “from here on you pack your own gear!” Problem is today we have too many folks who would rather some one else “packed their gear”. As long as they keep getting something for nothing they’ll vote the deadbeats back in office over and over. The responsible citizens, those “packing the gear”, have to wake up in order for things to change as the “takers” like things just as they are and, sad to say, their numbers are growing by leaps and bounds in this Country.

Semper fi
Clarence

November 4, 2009 L ,USA writes:

NO INCUMBANTS should be re elected demand paper ballots

November 4, 2009 Dwayne writes:

We’ve been told for years by congressmen that they know what is best for the country. That we little folks don’t know what is best for us, and that is why we need government. Well, if the congressmen can avoid confrontation, and can screen out those who disagree with them, of course their approval raitings will go up. Unfortunately, just because someone knows how to answer a questionaire on the computer, doesn’t mean they have the intellengence to think in reality.

November 4, 2009 Chris Van Herpe, Sparta VA writes:

There has never been a better time for a “throw the bums out” movement. We must do it in 2010 and continue to do it to show the polititions who is really in charge of our great republic.

November 4, 2009 SayUncle » The little people writes:

[...] The Foundry: Congress is actually using your tax dollars to pay social scientists to find ways they can avoid actually talking to their constituents while improving their chances of reelection. [...]

November 4, 2009 Mike, Salt Point NY writes:

I have no problem with the topic of the study. I would not want my representative stuck in the past. I don’t complain when I get a typed response instead of a hand written letter. That is my representative using the fruits of technology to efficiently communicate with their constituents. If there are advances in communications, I would want those new avenues explored.
With that said, I do have a problem with how the technology can be applied. If my representative only holds these tele-townhalls, that spells trouble. If they only have in-person townhalls on non-hot button issues, and tele-townhalls on the important issues to allow them cover, that’s a problem. We just have to be vigilant at keeping our reps. responsible to the people who put them in office.

Technology and information are neutral. They can be used or abused. We just need to be sure that our reps are using it correctly, for our benefit, not solely for their re-election.

November 4, 2009 bigyaz writes:

The writer of this item sounds like yet another technophobe who no doubt can’t program his 1990s-era VCR. This grant is about using new technology to make it *easier* for legislators to connect with constituents, so they don’t have to spend a lot of our time and money on airplane trips, etc.

If a legislator chooses to abuse technology by screening out unwelcome questions, he or she could do that in person as well.

Technology has made it possible for us to get information in ways we never could before. This is just another example. Sorry if the world is moving too fast for you.

November 5, 2009 News to Use « Hugoville writes:

[...] Congress Funds Study on How To Avoid Constituents, Stay in Office (The Heritage Foundation, 10/28/09) [...]

November 8, 2009 “How to Avoid Constituents”: A Study Funded by Congress « Just Americans Making Ethical Statements Weblog writes:

[...] November 8, 2009 in Campaign 2008, Campaign 2010, Campaign 2012, Economy, Family values, Politics, socialism | Tags: CMF, Congress, constituents, Heritage Foundation, Tea Party Revolution, Townhalls Congress Funds Study on How To Avoid Constituents, Stay in Office [...]