Talk to Power: Sen. Patty Murray

Is it just me, or does anyone else find this slightly offensive? The headline implies that we "commoners" may now seek an audience with the King--or in this case, the Queen.

 

Talk to Power is a program hosted by Judy Woodruff that provides a forum for you to ask politicians questions. This week's guest is our very own Senator Patty Murray. If you click on the picture at right, you can ask her anything you like. However, the forum's moderator reminds you:

"...that civility on the boards is required. Thank you again for taking part in our discussion and be sure to check back on Thursday for Sen. Murray's responses to your questions."

If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can see some of the questions and comments left by other participants. I wanted to share a couple with you.

 

Here's the first comment:

 

Judging by the rhetoric from both parties, it sounds as if the partisan bickering and the in-fighting in our government will continue. In view of this, do you see an opportunity for a third party to arise in American politics since the majority of Americans are getting very sick of the endless and useless partisan bickering?   Posted by j_ertl22 on Mon, Dec 4, 2006 3:28 PM ET

 

Sounds to me like j_ertl22 is experiencing total frustration with the political process. A third party has almost no chance of rising to power because our system of government has been so bastardized over the last 100 years that it generally will not accept more than two players at a time. For a third party to rise, one of the other two must fall.

 

I personally prefer the "do-over" option. There are, in my humble opinion, really very little redeeming qualities left in our system of government. If we must have government, I favor a new system that demands the smallest of government which is kept at a local level, i.e. closest to the people for accountability.

 

Here's the next comment:

 

The past six years have seen much partisanship and obstruction by your party in the Senate. You have shown very little independence when it comes to putting the peoples' business ahead of your party. As one of your constituents I want to know what you, as a leader in the Senate, are going to do to get the Senate back to business for the good of all those you represent.   Posted by jimb48 on Mon, Dec 4, 2006 3:34 PM ET

 

I have just one question here: Do you remember a time when state senators represented the interests of the states? That was, after all, what a senator was hired to do. The people have their own representatives, or are we done with the 10th Amendment?