# Hey dumbfucks on SD. Learn what Congress' job is. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 21, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832 "2013-10-21T16:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/21 "2013-10-21T20:16:29Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Oh, I understand just fine that nothing they’re doing is _illegal_. But if you’re going to try to excuse taking hostages to enforce tyranny of the minority, causing tons of damage to the economy, and threatening global default with “it’s legal”, then I’m afraid you’re off your rocker. No he’s not. He’s making a fairly narrow point concerning stuff that you should have learned in Civics class (or whatever you young people call it nowadays - assuming they even have such a class any more). Note the 2nd sentence of the OP where he says he is opposed to what the majority in the house did. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/22 "2013-10-21T20:20:07Z")
I have to laud the OP’s recreational outrage for his nice little mental jui jitsu trick on common sense. Pit the congress people who are supposed to know their jobs and responsibilities and their subsequent failure to carry it out? Hell no! I’m going to pit me some anonymous posters at the Dope because I disagree with their politics. Bra-(slow clap)- vo Sir Cad…Bravo. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/23 "2013-10-21T20:30:10Z")
OP rant was lame and wrong and stupid… For my part, I downloaded and saved a copy of the Washington Post list of which politicians voted for/against the shudown, and which ones voted for/against ending it and will vote accordingly. This lock-out (not shut down, a lock out) was a temper tantrum thrown by Tea Baggers led by Calgary Ted Cruz, and it caused real damage to real people. So bullshit to the OP and his weak sauce “rant”. So far the lock out already has caused (according to estimates) 20 BILLION dollars, lots of care to cancer patients. loss of child care for working parents, loss of jobs, and untold “inconveninece” to everyone it seems, EXCEPT the scumbags who instigated it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/24 "2013-10-21T20:38:47Z")
I realize that what Congress did was legal. I don’t care if it is legal, it’s immoral. I expect our elected representatives to fund the government and pay our bills. If they won’t do that because four years ago a law was passed that they didn’t like, then they’re assholes. When one radical fringe of one party in one house of Congress can shut everything down and bring us to the precipice of economic calamity, the system is broken. I’m all for fighting against the tyranny of the majority but what we had here was the tyranny of a small minority. What this proves beyond all doubt is that Republicans cannot be entrusted with any branch of government. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/25 "2013-10-21T20:47:28Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > To be honest, I agree with the OP. Had the shutdown issue been defunding the Iraq war, there’s no doubt the outrage would have been… different. Agreed. Though, it might have helped had the OP linked to the dumb-ass threads and posts. Not everyone read all those threads… and for good reason. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/26 "2013-10-21T20:48:13Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > OP rant was lame and wrong and stupid… Nope. It was lame and correct and stupid. He is pitting a narrow category of Dopers not the congress. And he is correct. It just that there seemed to be very few who didn’t understand it was legal. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/27 "2013-10-21T20:51:07Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Nope. It was lame and correct and stupid. He is pitting a narrow category of Dopers not the congress. And he is correct. It just that there seemed to be very few who didn’t understand it was legal. Correct. It was cheesy, sleazy, chickenshit, childish, destructive, but legal. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/28 "2013-10-21T20:53:25Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Trying to guarantee a default on America’s debt? That is Sedition. No, it isn’t, and you’re stupid for thinking so. The remedy for an elected representative doing a really, really, bad job or holding really, really dumb views is at the ballot box, not the jury box. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/29 "2013-10-21T20:55:07Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > rying to guarantee a default on America’s debt? That is Sedition. Are you sure it’s not treason, too? That’s another favorite, stupid claim to throw out there at times like this. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/30 "2013-10-21T20:57:34Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > No, it isn’t, and you’re stupid for thinking so. > > The remedy for an elected representative doing a really, really, bad job or holding really, really dumb views is at the ballot box, not the jury box. Like I said, I saved a list of who voted which way. I intend to refer to it in future elections. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/31 "2013-10-21T20:58:21Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Nope. It was lame and correct and stupid. He is pitting a narrow category of Dopers not the congress. And he is correct. It just that there seemed to be very few who didn’t understand it was legal. People pit single individuals all the time, so pitting a narrow category doesn’t seem unreasonable. I think it is unfortunate that so few seem to grasp the difference between appropriate ways to handle Congress’ misbehavior (e.g. vote the bums out, work politically against every one of them, etc.) and inappropriate ways (e.g. throw them in jail). Moral outrage is all fine, but if it is not followed by real, practical action, it is just pissing in the wind. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/32 "2013-10-21T21:08:05Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Oh, I understand just fine that nothing they’re doing is _illegal_. But if you’re going to try to excuse [stuff] with “it’s legal”, then I’m afraid you’re… …cker. Very true. ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/33 "2013-10-21T21:20:47Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > People pit single individuals all the time, so pitting a narrow category doesn’t seem unreasonable. > > I think it is unfortunate that so few seem to grasp the difference between \*\*\*appropriate ways \*\*\*to handle Congress’ misbehavior (e.g. vote the bums out, work politically against every one of them, etc.) and inappropriate ways (e.g. throw them in jail). Moral outrage is all fine, but if it is not followed by real, practical action, it is just pissing in the wind. > Roddy Unfortunately, the OP seems to want to ignore the “inappropriate ways” a small group in Congress behaved. The appropriate means (a vote) on the ACA had already been conducted. It passed. A minority deciding to hold the economy hostage to try and subvert the democratic process can by no stretch of the imagination be construed as appropriate. Technically legal now? Yes. After there’s a Democratic majority in both houses? Just follow the slime trail left by the departing teacumbents and watch how fast those dripping pie holes get plugged. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/34 "2013-10-21T21:22:25Z")
What bothers me the most is the hypocritical reasoning of economic protection from the “horror” of the ACA, and the willingness to court apocalyptic disaster with a shutdown and default. I try to avoid saying what so and so is doing is illegal, because it may not be and simply goes against what I prefer, but I loudly denounce any attempt at logical reasoning behind the GOP’s economic shutdown and their made-up, fake, misleading, and outright lying about its reason/blame/results ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/35 "2013-10-21T21:40:18Z")
So we see the (lack of) brilliance - or is it (lack of) reading skills - here on the dope. So the thread starts out specifically discussing that it is NOT about those that find the Republican manouvers unethical or immoral (a position I agree with including the rule change), but rather those specific idiots that show the complete un-understanding of the LEGAL obligations of the Houses of Congress and what do we get in reply: Sure it’s legal but fuck you it was unethical. Listen up shitfucks. I’m not debating the House’s motives and methods. I stand right in line with you. Hell, I even posted in another thread that agree or disagree, ACA is the law of the land and the Pubs need to deal with it. The group I am pitting are the morons on the dope that went beyond the obvious argument that House Pubs are fucktards and were talking about the illegality of what they were doing which is completely wrong. You want to argue with me then fine but pull you head out of each other’s asses and argue my point (And +1 point to Smapti who tried to say I was presenting a strawman who clearly doesn’t realize what the strawman is when my point is X and everyone is arguing yeah but I really want to disagree with you by pointing out Y. And it gets another +1 when I admitted in my OP that I AGREE with point Y) then address the point I made. Everything the House Pubs did was legal and that they were under no legal (again NOT arguing moral) obligation to pass the Senate’s bill or fund ACA. They are not guilty of a “high crime or misdemenor”, “sedition” or the fucktardiest one on SD “breach of government”. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/36 "2013-10-21T21:42:26Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > To be honest, I agree with the OP. Had the shutdown issue been defunding the Iraq war, there’s no doubt the outrage would have been… different. I don’t think so. Here’s the argument I’d have made: So you’re against the Iraq war? Fine. Bring the troops home. Negotiate out a peace treaty. Do both. Do neither. Discuss it and debate it on the House floor. Reach an agreement. But what you can’t do is shut off funding for the Iraq War. You can’t just leave soldiers over there to die because you’re throwing a goddamned hissy fit and not getting your way. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/37 "2013-10-21T21:43:49Z")
> [@sylmar](#): > > (snip) After there’s a Democratic majority in both houses? (snip) And what practical action (aside from impotent slavering on a message board) are you taking to make that happen? Roddy ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/38 "2013-10-21T21:55:19Z")
Just who is asserting that the Rethugs were acting illegally? Perhaps it’s just that some of us believe the Congress has an obligation to act morally that is as just as important as their obligation to act legally. ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/39 "2013-10-21T22:05:56Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So we see the (lack of) brilliance - or is it (lack of) reading skills - here on the dope. > > So the thread starts out specifically discussing that it is NOT about those that find the Republican manouvers unethical or immoral (a position I agree with including the rule change), but rather those specific idiots that show the complete un-understanding of the LEGAL obligations of the Houses of Congress and what do we get in reply: Sure it’s legal but fuck you it was unethical. > > Listen up shitfucks. I’m not debating the House’s motives and methods. I stand right in line with you. Hell, I even posted in another thread that agree or disagree, ACA is the law of the land and the Pubs need to deal with it. The group I am pitting are the morons on the dope that went beyond the obvious argument that House Pubs are fucktards and were talking about the illegality of what they were doing which is completely wrong. You want to argue with me then fine but pull you head out of each other’s asses and argue my point (And +1 point to Smapti who tried to say I was presenting a strawman who clearly doesn’t realize what the strawman is when my point is X and everyone is arguing yeah but I really want to disagree with you by pointing out Y. And it gets another +1 when I admitted in my OP that I AGREE with point Y) then address the point I made. > > Everything the House Pubs did was legal and that they were under no legal (again NOT arguing moral) obligation to pass the Senate’s bill or fund ACA. They are not guilty of a “high crime or misdemenor”, “sedition” or the fucktardiest one on SD “breach of government”. Shitfuck? Oooooo… You’re a kinky bad boy. Address the “point” you made? That out of hundreds of posts you might read in a day, a few are going to be made by less than politically astute commenters? WOW! That is just plain fucking transcendental dude! How far down into a bottle or up a hash pipe did you have to crawl to make that seem like a revelation to you cunthose? ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832/40 "2013-10-21T22:25:22Z")
Keep in mind that the OP is the former public school teacher who started a thread bitching about Obama after the Republican governor and legislature that he voted for passed a budget that slashed funds for his district, resulting in him losing his job. I doubt he’s qualified to teach civics to a houseplant, let alone anybody on the Dope. Except for ralph. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dumbfucks-on-sd-learn-what-congress-job-is/671832.md?page=3)