I remember reading something, somewhere from one of the founding fathers about the original intent of legislators to NOT be a political class. To serve a term or two and go home so that people from outside could contribute and people inside didn't get too jaded. Though maybe I'm adding a lot of subtext. Is there anything from any of the FF's on this that rings a bell? Do you have a quote or two?
posted by rileyray3000
on May 10, 2013 -
3 answers
What are the main foreign policy problems facing Obama and his administration right now?
posted by espada0
on Mar 6, 2012 -
24 answers
How did the U.S. House of Representatives pass the payroll tax cut extension yesterday when hardly any members were present?
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posted by Tin Man
on Dec 24, 2011 -
11 answers
Will a U.S. security clearance investigation in progress be halted if I leave my sponsoring company?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 14, 2011 -
5 answers
What just happened on C-Span? There was some health care related vote. What exactly did that vote decide?
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posted by stuart_s
on Mar 21, 2010 -
10 answers
What are the best well-written and scholarly (read: thoughtful and well-researched, not partisan or propagandistic) books or reports on which US government programs are managed effectively and which poorly, and why?
posted by shivohum
on Dec 3, 2009 -
7 answers
Australian (and U.S.) Mental Health/Legal Filter. Can you just go and talk your GP into having someone put through a psychiatric evaluation?
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posted by metalheart
on Feb 1, 2009 -
14 answers
I'm looking for a good book that will help me learn more about how the American government actually works. Specifically, how lobbyists influence Congress, how House committees work, etc. Now that a new administration (that I'm really happy about) is coming in, I want to really understand what's happening in Washington (or at least how its worked in the past).
posted by minicloud
on Nov 22, 2008 -
15 answers
Security Clearance/Foreign Service-filter: I'm thinking of a career in the Foreign Service when I get out of college (T-minus 4 years), which I am just now entering. While metafilter has had
questions about this before, but my situation is am bit different (so I'm hoping the Foreign Service mefites from those threads can chime in). The most important distinction is that I'm looking to be a
Security Engineering Officer, or in some other sort of engineering related role (which falls under "Management" I believe) not a diplomat. Much more after the jump...
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posted by phrontist
on Aug 8, 2006 -
12 answers
As I understand it, the US election is won by winning areas and then counting up how many wins each person got.
Give or take. It's not all that important to the question.
Does anyone know if/when the actual voter figures will be released? I'd love to compare this system to a true winner-takes-all system...
posted by twine42
on Nov 3, 2004 -
4 answers
On the radio yesterday there was talk of forming a Spy Czar to oversee the 15 different intelligence agencies. I can name maybe 7 different intelligence agencies. What are all 15?
posted by drezdn
on Jul 21, 2004 -
8 answers