Want Change? Unhappy with the Direction of Our Country? Get Rid of the Republican Domination of Our Government
I am always surprised to talk to people who say that they may vote for Trump, the Republican nominee, because they want change. If you truly want change, you would vote OUT the party who has dominated our government for almost the last 22 years.
Republicans Have Controlled The Congressional House for 18 of the Last 22 Years
For those who want change: it is an indisputable fact that the Republicans have had control, a majority, of our Congressional House for 18 years of the last 22 years! The Republicans took over the House back in 1995 with the Gingrich “revolution” and have held the House for 18 of the last 22 years. And guess what, it is a fact that the Republican-controlled House and Senate wrote the Gramm, Leach, Bliley Bill deregulating the banks in 1999. The law is named after the 3 Republicans that sponsored it.
Republicans Have Controlled our Senate for 16 of the Last 22 Years
Likewise, Democrats have only had control of of our Senate for 6 of the last 22 years! The Republicans have been in charge the overwhelming majority of the time over the last 22 years when people have been dissatisfied with our Congress. There were a few years during the Bush Administration where the Senate “seemed” split because one Republican changed to be an “Independent.” Nonetheless, even if there were to be a split vote in the Senate 50 Republicans to 50 Democrats, because the Republicans also held the Presidency during those years, Republican Vice President Cheney under law was the tie breaker.
Republicans Currently Control Both our House & Senate & Have Controlled Both the House & Senate for 16 of the Last 22 years
Republicans currently control both our House and Senate and have controlled both the House and Senate for 16 of the last 22 years. Republicans currently have control of 246 seats in the House of Representatives and Democrats only control 186 seats. Republicans currently control 54 seats in the Senate and Democrats control 44 seats.
Why is it Important that the Republicans have Dominated Congress?
The Congress is the branch of government that actually controls all of the government spending and makes all of the laws. Congress has control of the government purse strings (government spending), controls immigration and naturalization, declares war, and regulates commerce among other things. Also, the party in control has control over the Committees like the Banking Committee and Finance Committees. If you are unhappy with government spending, federal laws, our banking system, and immigration over the last 22 years, the overwhelming majority of the blame should go to the party who was in control, correct? So, put the blame on who it really belongs to, the party who has had control and throw out the Republican-controlled House and Senate.
Approval of Congress Has Been An All Time Low Since Republicans Have Controlled It
Not only have the Republicans dominated the House and Senate over the last 22 years, the Republican-controlled House and Senate have taken our Congress to an all time low in disapproval ratings over the last 22 years. See Gallup Historical Congressional Approval Polls of Congress. In fact, according to Gallup, the approval rating of Congress has consistently dropped each year from about 84% in 2001 to 25% in 2006, 9% in 2013, 10% in 2014, 11% in 2015, and 13% in 2016. The public consistently disapprove of the job that Congress is doing since Republicans have dominated it.
The Republicans Have Dominated Our Supreme Court
For the past three decades, the Supreme Court has been dominated by Republican appointees. In 1981, there were only two Democratic appointees on the Supreme Court. In 2001, there were likewise only 2 Democratic appointees on the Supreme Court. Moreover, we have had a majority of conservative justices on the Supreme Court. For the last 7 years, there has been a majority of 5 conservative justices to 4 liberal justices. Conservative Justice Scalia passed away this year leaving a 4-4 split because the Republican Congress has refused to vote on President Obama’s appointment to the Supreme Court.
Recent Breakdown of the Supreme Court:
Conservatives on the Bench
1) Scalia (conservative), * passed away this year and the Republican controlled congress is refusing to vote on Obama’s appointment.
2) Roberts (conservative),
3) Alito (conservative),
4) Thomas (conservative)
5) Kennedy (moderate conservative appointed by Reagan),
Liberals on the Bench
1) Sotomayor (liberal)
2) Ginsburg (liberal)
3) Breyer (liberal)
4) Kagan (liberal)
Republicans Have Controlled the Overwhelming Number of State Governments
Turning to the state level, the Republicans also control the Governor’s office in 31 of of the 50 U.S. states and control all levels of state government in 23 of the 50 states. Whereas Democrats only control all levels of state government in 7 of the 50 states. The rest of the state governments have a split government where the Republicans either have control of the Governor’s office or the state legislature.
Spread the Word — Get the Facts Out for Those Who Want Change
The misinformation machine keeps people from knowing who to blame. I have yet to meet anyone who is calling for “change,” that knows the correct facts. If you want change, there is one party that has dominated our government that is to blame. Voting for yet another Republican to control our government does not amount to change.