Re: Things will never change
"There's a hole in the American legislature process that allows virtually all of the external lobbyist and internal party pressure crap. The same thing that has helped contribute to polarizing partisan politics"
Thing is, you ALSO have to consider that Congresspeople are actually acting ON BEHALF of their constituents. Meaning the voters are the reason their votes are made public: to let the voters know how their Representatives and Senators are acting on their behalf. Intimidation and the like are SUPPOSED to be inflicted on them. Thing is, it's supposed to be the voters doing the intimidating. I mean, what better threat can you foist on a Congressman than a threat to vote against them in the next election (or, if allowed, start a premature recall process)? The system being corrupted in other ways dulls this angle. And you need other solutions for that, not to mention ways around those solutions (for example, some states may try to work around independent districting through city planning--if you can't draw the districts, designate residency to get around it).
As for lobbying, they've already come up with a pretty bulletproof way to ensure the door's open: enlist congressional spouses and siblings. After all, a husband is expected to be in constant contact with his wife and so on, especially if they have kids. Otherwise, you risk the family unit. And someone as close as a sibling tends to have frequent contact as well.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
