Show of Hands

A lot of the time! However, politicians will never do that - not unless they want to quit their own job.

Tho thinking is what makes me an Independent. I don't always choose to vote for someone based on how closely their views align with mine, but how effective I think they'll be for the unknown situations instead gets top billing from me. An I have

Agree. We need to slash the Federal budget to about $1,500,000,000,000, at most.

Absolutely. Look at the history of gun laws in Australia for an example.
It is a good argument for term limits for all elected positions...but look who would have to pass that law...

IMHO this is the greatest flaw to democracy... In order to get elected you can't take on important "third rail" issues that require unpopular measures because if you do you will never get elected. (Not that I'm anti-democracy, but it's a major flaw.)

True, that's why we are a federal republic

Yes. Like climate change. America may be anti-science, but we can't let that interfere with our children's health and our planet's sustainability.

But that would require Congress to have a collective spine.

Of course. We are not a nation of mob rule.

Yes, there are and I respect the ones who make those decisions more than those who don't.