Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Bloomberg Businessweek is out today with "A Congressional Exit Interview", in which retiring Senators Olympia Snowe and Kent Conrad join outbound Congressmen Gary Ackerman and Geoff Davis to reflect on the state of affairs on Capitol Hill. The whole thing is pretty nauseating, suffused as it is with the kind of hand-wringing that passes for political courage amongst longtime legislators (it turns out political parties tend to be partisan!). But it is Congressman Ackerman (a New York Democrat) who, when asked about comity on Capitol Hill, gets the money quote:
Society has changed. The public is to blame as well. I think the people have gotten dumber. I don’t know that I would’ve said that out loud pre-my announcement that I was going to be leaving. [Laughter] But I think that’s true. I mean everything has changed. The media has changed. We now give broadcast licenses to philosophies instead of people. People get confused and think there is no difference between news and entertainment.
So there you have it: a man lamenting the lack of cooperation in American politics by denigrating the intelligence of those who disagree with him.
What's remarkable here is that Ackerman is saying out loud what many of the "the system is broken" thumbsuckers really believe: that their benighted constituents are unworthy of the service of our congressional philosopher-kings.
And yet what's the latest fetish for this group? Compulsory voting. In fact, if you're willing to go to the lengths of Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, it's compulsory voting with a cash lottery. Who knew that we could strengthen the nation's sense of civic responsibility just by treating elections like one of those fake giveaway police stings?
Perhaps Ackerman is right that the problem is the intelligence of the American voter. Since he's obviously enjoying his newfound freedom from political pressure, I'll look forward to him filing a bill to hem in the franchise prior to his retirement.
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Dec '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
I'm sure government controlled education has nothing to do with "dumber" citizens.
Jun '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
If they looked on Congress as a short public service, rather than a career gravy train, it wouldn't mater how "stupid" the voters were. You'd just do what you think is right, and take your lumps at election time. But if you're just trying to get reelected, a opinion polling company could do all your voting on the House Floor. Who needs you?
Edited on June 21, 2012 at 9:08pmJul '11
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
I'm visualizing duct tape on him right now. Career politicians are generally scum and he fits the bill.
Jun '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Troy
And yet what's the latest fetish for this group? Compulsory voting. In fact, if you're willing to go to the lengths of Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, it's compulsory voting with a cash lottery. Who knew that we could strengthen the nation's sense of civic responsibility just by treating elections like one of those fake giveaway police stings?
That may be the dumbest idea since Obamacare. If people don't vote because they're too dumb or too lazy, then they're doing the republic a favor.
Edited on June 21, 2012 at 9:17pmDec '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Yeah, he's really talking about all those stoopid tea party hacks who disagree with him. You know, the ones quoting the Constitution and the Federalist Papers. He's just fine with people who voted for Barack Obama because he's pro-life and chose Sarah Palin as his running mate.
May '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Compulsory voting is all a matter of horticulture. Yes, my friends, you can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.
Oct '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Americans in 2004: Dumb
Americans in 2006: Smart
Americans in 2008: Very, Very Smart
Americans in 2010: Idiocracy
We're bi-polar! Secretary Sibelious needs to start regulating this dangerous disorder before it's too late.
Oct '11
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Most conversations with liberals about politics in America invariably lead to the liberal stating that voters are dumb. At least, when you're talking about the 2004 re-election of Bush, or the 2010 Tea Party surge.
Dec '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Maybe he didn't mean we're dumb; we're just uninformed. Perhaps congress can mandate how much MSNBC we watch every day.
Jan '11
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Compulsory voting?
I vote no.
Nov '11
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
tabula rasa
Troy
And yet what's the latest fetish for this group? Compulsory voting. In fact, if you're willing to go to the lengths of Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, it's compulsory voting with a cash lottery. Who knew that we could strengthen the nation's sense of civic responsibility just by treating elections like one of those fake giveaway police stings?
That may be the dumbest idea since Obamacare. If people don't vote because they're too dumb or too lazy, then they're doing the republic a favor. · 21 minutes ago
Edited 21 minutes ago
If you're a Democratic strategist, you've got to look wistfully at the rosy results of those polls of "adults".
Jan '11
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
I believe there's a very large amount of truth as to what Ackerman is claiming here. He doesn't see the world through the same lens that I do, to be sure, but I think that he's pegged the problem correctly. Bryan Caplan persuaded me on this one.
Sep '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
The public is to blame as well.
I didn't know Democrats thought the public could be trusted with any form of responsibility.
Every child must attend 12 years of government run or regulated schools - tens of thousands of classroom hours. Who's to blame again they don't know enough?
May '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Sign him up for Celebrity Jeopardy.
Dec '11
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Might it be that compulsory voting would likely benefit the party that tends to draw support from those groups which vote the least regularly (presumably the lowest economic classes and the young)?
Jun '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
KC Mulville: Compulsory voting?
I vote no. · 29 minutes ago
But can we make you? I think not.
Apr '12
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
For the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country
May '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Ackerman's a pig.
Oct '10
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
I ran across this gem in a story about partisan election prospects on Capitol Hill:
"The situation for the left is slightly better in the Senate, where strong recruitment and the surprise retirement of Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) has increased Democrats’ odds of holding the upper chamber."
Could there be a more emblematic parting gift from perennial swinger Snowe?
Nov '11
Re: Retiring House Member: Problem with Congress is Stupidity of the American People
Awesome! Now we get to pay this guy a pension!