Stop whining. Call and write your representative, be a part of the solution.

We know it's bad, we know the going will be tough. We need to get off our collective asses and put the pressure on to fix it instead of ranting and perpetuating self-fulfilling prophecies.

Part of his complaint, though he didn't state it, is that it's just too damn hard to get the elected officials to ACTUALLY REPRESENT the people who they SUPPOSEDLY REPRESENT. And I think that's a fair criticism of our government, the officials answer more to their corporate sponsors (who largely don't mind tending towards actively support) this kind of thing, rather than to the people.

Furthermore I shouldn't have to weigh in with my Congresspersons on whether I think something is Constitutional or not. Their job, literally, is to make law in accordance with the Constitution. Here's the oath they take:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

Many elected officials have broken their oaths by passing the Patriot Act or the FISA Act as those authorize blanket warrants; something that the Constitution implicitly prohibits by virtue of the Fourth Amendment.

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.[1]"

That's the text and you don't get to judge the current laws based on the original text plus all the intervening laws too; the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and if any law contradicts it, guess which one is considered invalid?

So given that the Congress collectively doesn't seem to answer to the people, and collectively doesn't uphold its oath, I would argue that his whining is incredibly justified.

It's not productive in that it doesn't change a congressperson's mind about anything, nor does it get any of those criminals fired or impeached or un-elected. But it's not invalid.

EDIT: Congressmen -> Congressperson

> Part of his complaint, though he didn't state it, is that it's just too damn hard to get the elected officials to ACTUALLY REPRESENT the people who they SUPPOSEDLY REPRESENT. And I think that's a fair criticism of our government, the officials answer more to their corporate sponsors (who largely don't mind tending towards actively support) this kind of thing, rather than to the people.

As politically apathetic as the American population is now, we are a part of the problem. Our reps certainly have their problems, but let's not pretend like we're not at fault either. Our apathy allowed things to get like they did. That doesn't make us all terrible people, it just means we need to do more as citizens to keep our crooked politicians honest.

In the same time it takes to write some of these whiney posts, a letter could have been written or a call made. We can sit and debate whether the letter or the call did anything, or we could all just sack up and do it and potentially benefit from it.

Does a woman who wears revealing clothing deserve to get raped?

You're blaming the victim.

Yes we are responsible for not voting these criminals out of office, but that doesn't make what they do any less reprehensible. At least acknowledge that they're in the wrong. I also think it's terrible that it's our job to keep them honest. It's their job to keep themselves honest! That's why they were elected! If we can't trust them to be honest (and it seems clear to me that we can't) perhaps we ought to explore different ways of governing.