Carrots and Sticks

[Are_grits_groceries]

What I don't understand about a lot of policies, events, and political moves has been the lack of 'sticks.'

It would be great to think that people would rapidly respond to carrots and immediately reform and do the right thing on their own. From the bailed out bastards to Lieberman and now to Lincoln, I have yet to see consequences for some downright deplorable actions.

The bailees were given little oversight, little requirement for transparency, and little negative consequences for a lot of the behavior they are now exhibiting. Credit was and is tight. The bailees have been loathe to loosen it and help the overall economy. Why aren't they being whacked hard with something to get them to move?

Joe Lieberman has done everything but literally moon the Dems. Apparently nothing was required of him when he regained his chairmanship of the DHS committee. He has to want something somewhere and somehow in the legislative system. Somebody needs to find out what it is and whack him with it.

Lincoln and Landrieu have admitted to using the leverage they made in order to get more items for them and their states. If they want something, the converse is true. There is something they don't want such as something crucial to their state being lessened. Whack them with it.

This is a sad state of affairs, and I am advocating politics as usual. That appears to be their guiding mantra, and they don't fear any whacks. Reforming the system is an admirable goal, but doing it now with such a major policy isn't helping anybody. The Senators who have supported this all along haven't been given anything as far as I can tell. Bernie Sanders is just now making noises in this direction.

If Landrieu and Lincoln fear health care votes will cost them, whack them with something that will cost them more. The Dems are hard enough to round up anyway. Without anything but somebody calling gently for them to come home, they'll always be wandering away.

[vi5]

1. Exactly....

I've said this same thing in other threads. There is nothing but benefit and upside for these handful of troublemakers to buck their party and get all "mavericky".

There is no downside because our leadership offers up no downside. In fact quite the opposite, each time this subject comes up our leaders go out of their way to praise these people.

It's pushing me very close to the edge of just throwing in the towel on the democratic party.

[RKP5637]

2. Democrats are functioning as if in the minority across the board IMO. n/t

[Toots]

3. Republicans use the sticks while Democrats use the carrots

I hope the Republican way does not turn out to be the best way..

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. I would hope right now for a

balance of the two. As it is, the Dems run wild with whatever position they espouse. I don't like the tight, lockstep of the Rethugs. However, the Dems better find a way to get something done and coalesce somewhat.

I don't think everybody would have to be smacked. A few examples might help moderate some other people. And as I said, I don't mean moderate them into robots. I just mean try to get them in sight of the party platform or other issues.