Joel, I agree.

However, the majority of voters have only themselves to thank for all of it.

The majority of voters apparently care more about THEIR party, than their country, as evidenced by 9% approval ratings for Congress, but perpetual 85%-to-90% re-election rates for Congress.

But that can’t last forever.
Eventually, corruption will become so painful, that people will either finally choose responsibility, or suffer the more painful consequences.

At any rate, the voters have the government that the voters elect (and re-elect, and re-elect, and re-elect , … , at least until that finally becomes too painful (see example here)).

Only one problem with your approach, Joel. And that is your approach.

Calling people cowards and then asking them do what you think is the right thing to do, is ... well... the wrong approach.

It may be an old saying, but, its just as valid today as it was in the 17th century:

You catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.

Voters aren't stupid.
However, voters are culpable too.
While most people are railing against bad politicians, too few people are focusing on the reason we have so many bad politicians.
For years, no one can name 50, 100, 200, or even 268 (half of 535) in Congress that are not FOR-SALE, irresponsible, corrupt, look-the-other-way, and/or fiscally and morally bankrupt.
So why do the majority of voters repeatedly reward 85%-to-90% of incumbent politicians with perpetual re-election?
Mabye most voters aren't stupid, but too many voters certainly do stupid things, and repeatedly rewarding bad incumbent politicians and expecting incumbent politicians to become more responsible and accountable doesn't sound too smart, does it?

Government won't become more responsible and accountable until enough voters become responsible and accountable too.

Voters aren't stupid, but too many voters are too complacent, apathetic, misguided, delusional, too easily bribed, blindly partisan, and too easily controlled and manipulated.

The root of the problem and solution rests mostly with the voters, because THEIR politicians are not going to become more responsible and accountable if the voters continue to repeatedly reward bad politicians with perpetual re-election rates of 85%-to-90%.

Most voters aren't stupid, but crappin' in one's own nest isn't very smart, and getting crapped on while crappin' in one's own nest is very smart either, is it?

The bottom line is this.
It is up to the electorate to bring about real reforms, because bad politicians have been rewarded fro too long for opposing real reforms.
Incumbent politicians are not going to stop being fiscally and morally bankrupt when the voters repeatedly reward incumbent politicians for it.

At any rate, the voters have the government that they elect, and re-elect, and re-elect, and re-elect, until that finally becomes too painful.

Its time to FIGHT! Strike back against these media weapons of mass distortion!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K50TS0UZE7w

Good video.

It has a lot of good stuff that people should know.

There is just one big problem.
It is severely partisan biased.
Democrats AND Republicans are BOTH to blame.
Democrats may have been protecting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but Repubicans had the majority in the House, Senate, and Executive Branch between 2000 and 2006.

Therefore, most (if not all) of them are dirty.
Therefore, most (if not all) of them are corrupt.
Therefore, most (if not all) of them are FOR-SALE.
Therefore, most (if not all) of them are incompetent.
Therefore, most (if not all) of them are fiscally and morally bankrupt.

People should watch that video, but they should not fall for the fueling-of and wallowing-in the blind, circulare, distracting, partisan warfare.

The fueling and wallowing in the circular, divisive, distracting partisan warfare is for people who care more about THEIR party than their country.

At any rate, the voters have the government that the voters elect (and re-elect, and re-elect, and re-elect , . . . , at least until that finally becomes too painful).