ACORN

[kandrathe]

"I mentioned it because you seem to have a problem with a Congressman getting educated by a farmer. In fact, if things in government operated as intended, the congressman might be a farmer who is taking 2 years off to serve their country."

No matter how intelligent or wise a farmer is, without further experience the man would not be able to run a country. Besides, what would become of his farm during that time? While romantic and idealistic, the notion that you could ask someone on the street how to run the nation is absurd. You may despise politicians, but not everyone can do the job.

There is no reason for a representative to "run the country", only that they inform themselves on issues before the congress and vote in a way that best represents their home district.

"This is where you may not understand our federal system. The federal government exists to maintain only what is common within the 50 states..."

I think I do. In the Netherlands, the central government exists to maintain only what is common within the 14 provinces. That just happens to be a lot. Too much according to some, too little according to others. Just like in the States. But in general we don't worry much about it because we have more important matters to argue about, like clothing regulations and the (im)politeness of handshaking :glare:

You could say we Dutch are too opportunistic for the Republican viewpoint. Instead of arguing where a decision must be made, we just (try to) make it. When it's too difficult or 'hot' to handle, it gets shoved up or down the hierarchy :whistling:

In a federation of States, the States should retain the bulk of the governing power, and only cede to the republic that power needed for governing the federation. It's not that the states are asking for special consideration, these are deals made between the congress person and some special public or private interest. Often, these pork projects are "thank you" gifts to important constituents who helped the congress person get elected in the first place. They just slip in an amendment on an unrelated bill, to fund some project in their home state.

"I believe the federal governments sole purpose is to protect individual rights relating to life, liberty, and the pursuit of their dreams."

I think you forgot the individual's global economic interests, which are now threatened by malicious Chinese valuta manipulations, from what I saw here.

It would fall under the trade negotiations area.