This summer's town hall meetings made many congressmen and senators uncomfortable. No worries. The sycophants they fund have used your tax money to fund a study that advises politicians how they can avoid seeing you altogether.
Through the National Science Foundation, taxpayers paid the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) for a study that teaches members of Congress and their staffs about the benefits of town hall meetings held on the Internet.
(T)his report urges Congressmen not to actually interact with their constituents, but to avoid them altogether by holding safe townhalls they can completely control...
Congress is actually using your tax dollars to pay social scientists to find ways they can avoid actually talking to their constituents while improving their chances of reelection.
What a great use of your money.
On your dime, CMF studied 21 online town hall meetings. Questions were typed and submitted via the Web. According to the study, "....offensive questions were screened.”
No wonder CMF thinks members of Congress will like the idea of Internet town halls. It's tougher to screen the questions of a voter angry about wasteful spending if he's standing 10 feet away.
Since 2004, CMF has received $160,000 from the National Science Foundation for studies like this one. I’m sure Congress considers this money well spent.
GIVE US A BREAK STOSSEL!
Try the truth instead of reporting spin from a neo con right wing group The Heritage Foundation. Are you really a "reporter" or just a parrot for the right wing.
Why dont you tell the truth that this was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and contributions from Harvard’s Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation. IN 2004!!! Under Republican rule!! They facilitated 20 online townhall meetings in 06 & 1 in 08.
When are the American people going to start applying standards to the politicians to whom they elect? A politician too cowardly to face their constituents should NEVER be elected. I do not care if they represent that they have the exact same political views that I have. I have no use for cowards and neither should you. They will let you down.
November 2, 2009 at 8:52 am
Ed Blokdyk
I have always said America is too big of a country to be governed by two parties. Some european countries often the size of one of our larger cities have sometimes up to 20 parties or more. When introducing a new law many different representatives have their input rather then it is one or the other. Now the Democrats have all the say so all others can just submit and protest or whine about it.
November 1, 2009 at 1:40 am
thetotas
wow, when he said its time for a change, I thought it was a good thing.
I didn't beleive it then, and I still don't.
November 1, 2009 at 12:14 am
louis
I strongly agree we need a third party. we need a progressive party that will focus on getting the job of the american people done. We need to put neither on the ballet if we feel our candidates for office don't represent the needs of all americans not just the priveledge few.We need to wake up and realize we have been sold out by our own government. We are losing the economic war. How blind can the government be not to realize this.
we need full employment laws on the books now.
I absolutly agree we should elect a whole new group of politicians in future election`s.We can only hope the damage can be undone.Look behind the sound bite`s
October 31, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Judy
Unless the Republicans shape up (little chance of that), we need a SUCCESSFUL third party. Or, there may already be one. Take this short political quiz and find out. My friend and I, both registered Republicans, found out we're Libertarians! Quiz is at: www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html
October 31, 2009 at 2:07 pm
lou
THIS IS REALLY SIMPLE. DUMP ALL OF THEM IN 2010 REGARDLESS OF PARTY, SENIORITY, POPULARITY, OR ANY OTHER JUDGEMENT CRITERIA. IF THIS CROP IS THE BEST IN AMERICA, WE'RE DOOMED ANYWAY. WHAT IS THERE TO LOSE? THEN DO IT AGAIN IN 2012 STARTING WITH NOBAMA AND BIDEN. FORGET PALIN AS WELL
Maybe a third party is the answer.It's obvious what we have
now is not working for working American taxpayers.I agree ...
vote them ALL out.
October 31, 2009 at 12:08 am
Rob
This is so sad! I was appalled at the treatment of the Tea Party protesters and the Town Hall people. Whether you agree with their opinions or not, they are Americans and have a right to question their government leaders. After all they work for us!
October 30, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Nevada Kd
Well, think of it this way. By using these new techniques, we won't have to watch congress and the president lie to our faces. They'll just edit (censor) whatever, for future generations.
October 30, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Pat
We are in an abamanation. The reason the simulus has not been given out is because they are saving it to distribute just before the 2010 elections. It doesn't take a wizard. Just study the medium is the massage and language and thought in action before it is too late
October 30, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Alonzo T. McZephyr
I've always said that the U.S. has the best collection of lawmakers that money can buy.
October 30, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Marsh
Getting up close and personal with our elected officials can be a disheartening experience. I often allows to discover what fools we have elected. They present themselves so well with a script and a monitor, what happens to the glib banter when they actually have to think and act? With that said; It may be time for a third party. One doing the tasks originally planned in our constitution.
Few in either party seem to care about anything but maintaining power and re-election. Vote them OUT!
October 30, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Aardvark
Of course the reverse it true also. How many of us actually want to be in the presence of our elected representatives. There have been times I can feel them sucking the Oxygen out of the air.
John Stossel joined FOX Business and FOX News in October 2009. He is the New York Times best-selling author of Give Me A Break and Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity. His "Give Me a Break" commentaries take a skeptical look at a wide array of issues, such as education, the economy, parenting, and more.
This summer's town hall meetings made many congressmen and senators uncomfortable. No worries. The sycophants they fund have used your tax money to fund a study that advises politicians how they can avoid seeing you altogether.
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2,421 views
Randall
GIVE US A BREAK STOSSEL! Try the truth instead of reporting spin from a neo con right wing group The Heritage Foundation. Are you really a "reporter" or just a parrot for the right wing. Why dont you tell the truth that this was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and contributions from Harvard’s Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation. IN 2004!!! Under Republican rule!! They facilitated 20 online townhall meetings in 06 & 1 in 08.
Eric
When are the American people going to start applying standards to the politicians to whom they elect? A politician too cowardly to face their constituents should NEVER be elected. I do not care if they represent that they have the exact same political views that I have. I have no use for cowards and neither should you. They will let you down.
Ed Blokdyk
I have always said America is too big of a country to be governed by two parties. Some european countries often the size of one of our larger cities have sometimes up to 20 parties or more. When introducing a new law many different representatives have their input rather then it is one or the other. Now the Democrats have all the say so all others can just submit and protest or whine about it.
thetotas
wow, when he said its time for a change, I thought it was a good thing. I didn't beleive it then, and I still don't.
louis
I strongly agree we need a third party. we need a progressive party that will focus on getting the job of the american people done. We need to put neither on the ballet if we feel our candidates for office don't represent the needs of all americans not just the priveledge few.We need to wake up and realize we have been sold out by our own government. We are losing the economic war. How blind can the government be not to realize this. we need full employment laws on the books now.
Paul
I absolutly agree we should elect a whole new group of politicians in future election`s.We can only hope the damage can be undone.Look behind the sound bite`s
Judy
Unless the Republicans shape up (little chance of that), we need a SUCCESSFUL third party. Or, there may already be one. Take this short political quiz and find out. My friend and I, both registered Republicans, found out we're Libertarians! Quiz is at: www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html
lou
THIS IS REALLY SIMPLE. DUMP ALL OF THEM IN 2010 REGARDLESS OF PARTY, SENIORITY, POPULARITY, OR ANY OTHER JUDGEMENT CRITERIA. IF THIS CROP IS THE BEST IN AMERICA, WE'RE DOOMED ANYWAY. WHAT IS THERE TO LOSE? THEN DO IT AGAIN IN 2012 STARTING WITH NOBAMA AND BIDEN. FORGET PALIN AS WELL
Bobby
Maybe a third party is the answer.It's obvious what we have now is not working for working American taxpayers.I agree ... vote them ALL out.
Rob
This is so sad! I was appalled at the treatment of the Tea Party protesters and the Town Hall people. Whether you agree with their opinions or not, they are Americans and have a right to question their government leaders. After all they work for us!
Nevada Kd
Well, think of it this way. By using these new techniques, we won't have to watch congress and the president lie to our faces. They'll just edit (censor) whatever, for future generations.
Pat
We are in an abamanation. The reason the simulus has not been given out is because they are saving it to distribute just before the 2010 elections. It doesn't take a wizard. Just study the medium is the massage and language and thought in action before it is too late
Alonzo T. McZephyr
I've always said that the U.S. has the best collection of lawmakers that money can buy.
Marsh
Getting up close and personal with our elected officials can be a disheartening experience. I often allows to discover what fools we have elected. They present themselves so well with a script and a monitor, what happens to the glib banter when they actually have to think and act? With that said; It may be time for a third party. One doing the tasks originally planned in our constitution. Few in either party seem to care about anything but maintaining power and re-election. Vote them OUT!
Aardvark
Of course the reverse it true also. How many of us actually want to be in the presence of our elected representatives. There have been times I can feel them sucking the Oxygen out of the air.