Super Committee Stalemate a Symptom of Growing Political Isolation

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We need to get the extremists out of our legislative bodies by adopting either "nonpartisan blanket primaries" (like California, Washington, and Louisiana use for at least some races), and/or "instant-runoff voting", which is used in several US cities, but is more commonly used at various levels in current and former members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

NeilsInSeattle of WA 12:14AM November 22, 2011

True! us americans who Work for a living and cant bend the rules or expense the taxpayers for any and whatever are getting fed up with those that do. Let's start with voting Congress out and getting new people in there.

richard edwards of RI 9:40AM November 21, 2011

Whaaaat?? The Occupy Wall Street movement has nothing to do with this, and in fact has arisen as a result of the ideological isolation on either extreme. Occupy Wall Street IS the middle!

Chuck of TX 11:09PM November 20, 2011

I am becoming sick and tired of our politicians in Washington D.C. they have become a bunch of selfish dastards. They seem to care nothing about our country ,its all about their ego, their greed, and being in the pocket of Corp America. Then they have the gall to tell other countries how to behave. HYPOCRITES one and all. As for Pres Obama , he is a very smart man, with some fair ideas. But he lacks the backbone to go after these idiot politicians in Congress and kick gass. Our Republic does not practice Democracy . It practices , GHA.(GREED- HYPOCRISY- ARROGANCE)..Its so pathetic

Galactic Cannibal of CA 4:35PM November 20, 2011

Super Committee was a waste of time and tax payer $$. In the private sector every member would be fired for not fullfilling their assigned duties. The only action that occurred was between the lobbies and the committee members. The America public got zero.

Debbie of CA 3:32PM November 20, 2011

Very well said. Being raised and supporting a family according to middle class tradition is being destroyed.
The main reason, I believe, is that the opportunity for hands on, physical labor employment have all but gone. Everyone cannot sit at a desk, some need to accomplish the physical demands that allow that person at the desk to be necessary.
Food production, housing products, water, clothing, electricity and many more rely on physical labor. But the environtmental revolution is destroying those careers with too much regulation. They use the aforementioned products, which destroys their integrity, I say, yet they punish the producers.
Every single human being has a set of skills. Either mental or physical, or some of the fortunate have both. The employment opportunity for physical labor is being destroyed and what do we do with those who are only gifted with that skill?
Many, including myself, seek some sort of public outcry to denounce what is happining by sliding far to the right. The Constitution is all that we have left, and we will defend it.

Larry Twidwell of CA 1:24PM November 20, 2011

"There's a feeling that our biggest institutions are letting us down"--Like businesses that don't need customers. They aren't concerned with the midddle. They don't work for the middle. At best they work for shareholders.
The idea that the US's problems began or would end with Obama is ludicrous partisan drivel. He was voted in for "change", which an appointment of Geitner signalled would not happen after all.
It is time for consumers, for the middle, to demand lobbyists stop writing the laws, and by extension the budgets, even if takes changing out everyone in DC.

Alby of FL 5:22AM November 20, 2011

This so called Super Committee was a shame from the beginning.
1.If no agreement, automatic kick in takes effect in 2013.
2.Can not force agreements on future Congress.
3.Some of the liberals were vocally specking out against TEA.
4.Bad TEA wants debt reduced, smaller government, and regulations and are responsible considering jobs and cost.
5.History proves tax cuts for rich increases their share of taxes paid and so more money for government revenue. Is simple they invest, create job, and pay more taxes. 4.01% more under Bush according to CBO. Bill Clinton's tax INCREASES gave less bang to economy than Speaker Newt's negotiated tax CUTS for rich FULFILLING a promise in CONTRACT WITH AMERICA.
Newt got agreements in Congress even without Republican control of Congress. With full control of Congress Democrats could not pass budget due Oct. 1, 2010. With full control of Congress, obama could not get obamacare passed without a WHOLE LOT OF PORK PAYOLA. And last ditch agreement to not use public money for abortions with hold out Democrats got obamacare passed before the bill was even read or bill finished being written. Senator had to be sent for while attending funeral, yet once passed a unheard of at least 4 year wait for full implication. This bill which completely evaluated by CBO says puts us in DEPER DEBT not surplus as
“““Slick Willy 2””” said...
I believe it is very safe to say Democrats will never agree. They think it is in there best interest. Best to be the true “do nothings” once thay finished passing legislation in first year. Prior to their FALL Nov. 2, 2010. Unfortunately for America they learned no lessens from their loss of Democrat Controlled Congress. That's barry's """Change""" you can believe in !!!

Bill Hedges of MO 3:45PM November 19, 2011

Articles such as this make me believe even more that, It's time for a serious house cleaning in DC. The thieves that occupy both parties have done nothing to improve our countries standards, while lining their own pockets now for years. There is a way to do it. Here's how, so spread the word.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zYh0RsCXys

Tom of TX 10:39AM November 19, 2011

Mary "I-need-to-get-real" Kate Cary writes: "There's a feeling that our biggest institutions are letting us down, because they're so out of touch with what working families are going through: you see it in the record-low approval numbers for Congress, the distrust of the mainstream media, the antipathy toward big banks, the outrage at the Catholic Church, the anger at massive government spending, even the disgust at the leadership of Penn State."
What is all too clear, to use your words, "'disconnected from the broad middle of American life' all around us", is the black and white division of our citizens caused by the Obama Administration and the continuing massive corruption of his extremist liberal party!
We, the people, are mighty sick and tired of the "I'm-going-to-get-what-I-want-regardless" attitude from, what I call, the "liberal sect"! We, the people, want the normalcy that is derived from rational and reasonable clarity of thought that comes with the fruition of our honest, hard work.
We, the people, want far less of "big brother" (big government) regulating the s--t out of us and watching our every move!
All of the above, and far more, is reason enough to totally distrust this current administration as they leave the constant presence of definitive negative thoughts (in other words....a bad, bad, taste in the mouth!).

Shirley Casandra of MO 10:05AM November 19, 2011