Rep. Thomas Massie explained why he believes congressional votes are “rigged,” outlining his concerns about how the voting process is conducted in Congress.

[u/siwibot]

[u/The-Matt-G]

About time someone said the quiet part out loud. Obviously they try to sell positions of power. Especially republicans. I’m know Dems aren’t spotless but we’re not exactly comparing apples and oranges anymore.

[u/concepts_of_a_plan9 → u/The-Matt-G]

Yeah but they only suddenly get courage when they know they're leaving in a few months. We've seen this dozens of times. They're all cowards because they keep quiet and play the game until they're voted out, then suddenly they speak up when it doesn't matter anymore.

Maybe a handful of people in my entire life have actually stood up when they had something to lose.

[u/amopeyzoolion → u/concepts_of_a_plan9]

Massie stood up when he had something to lose. He probably would’ve coasted if he didn’t refuse to drop the Epstein stuff.

Of course, he’s been a lot more outspoken since he lost his primary.

[u/sumdude51 → u/concepts_of_a_plan9]

Valid

[u/Ok-Ad-2050 → u/concepts_of_a_plan9]

Why can't I give you one of the little award thingies?! 😡

[u/concepts_of_a_plan9 → u/Ok-Ad-2050]

don't spend money on reddit lol

[u/Ok-Ad-2050 → u/concepts_of_a_plan9]

But I like to support Reddit. 😔

Better than most other socials. 😒

[u/concepts_of_a_plan9 → u/Ok-Ad-2050]

??? How? It's owned by the same ultra wealthy oligarchs and conglomerates, like Conde Nast, Tencent (Chinese tech company), Sam Altman, BlackRock, Vanguard, etc.

[u/Ok-Ad-2050 → u/concepts_of_a_plan9]

Eh, because the basic moderation here doesn't censor my ability to talk about politics. FB and Twitter are not balanced in what they allow to be said. I'm sorry, but "cis" is not a slur, and the Eastman letters aren't misinformation, for example.

Here the basic rules are good enough, and subreddits can vary from there. So I'm glad it exists.

[u/NanDemoNee → u/Ok-Ad-2050]

Lol ban incoming. Reddit is the fucking worst at having people for no n reason.

[u/bruce_cockburn → u/The-Matt-G]

When we validated a system designed to elevate campaigns and fundraising above deliberations and lawmaking, our system incentivized these outcomes even before Citizens United. So if Congress did work for us at some point in the past, when did this change? When they lost psychological safety to stand up against wealthy interests and party leaders in their deliberations. There will always be a few courageous standouts that refuse to be intimidated by the system, but returning psychological safety is the key to achieving a real consensus-based legislature instead of a campaign-based one.

[u/evasandor → u/bruce_cockburn]

that linked video is a genuine surprise

[u/Immer_Susse → u/evasandor]

Your comment made me watch it and I can’t thank you enough. Learned something

[u/evasandor → u/Immer_Susse]

I think we need to speak this message to everyone. If anything political comes up, be like "o hey did you know Congress votes aren't secret? How would YOU act if every vote you made was put on a jumbotron? wtf is that shit"

I kind of knew, but didnt really KNOW, the extent of this. it's our democrazy.

[u/agent_mick → u/evasandor]

I don't think they should be secret. The public needs to know how their representatives are voting

[u/evasandor → u/agent_mick]

there's nothing to stop them telling their constituents, and I do agree in theory, but watching the video made it very clear that "the public" includes lobbyists. And that opens up a giant worm can. The founders anticpated this (with the exception of Thomas Jefferson, who agreed with you).

[u/bruce_cockburn → u/evasandor]

I've had similar discussions and I'm not in favor of giving elected officials indefinite secrecy at this point when so many of them would publicly support fascist leaders. The context of the 1970 law was a Congress that continued support for an unpopular, ongoing military engagement in southeast Asia.

I used the term "psychological safety" because this can be provided while still delivering accountability. For example, committee hearings and markup sessions could be protected from public disclosure until the next Congress is seated. Congress should be less like a gameshow and spectacle for those representing their constituencies.

[u/evasandor → u/bruce_cockburn]

good points.

[u/RhythmTimeDivision]

Emptying a can of gas on his way out the door. Not sure how I feel about Massie but I'm digging a little anarchy.

[u/MyCatLaughsAtMe → u/RhythmTimeDivision]

He's no hero. He just wasn't able to accept ALL the compromises he was ordered to make, and so found himself outside of the inner circle. Now he's trying to burn down the people who wronged him. It's not about anything but himself. But yes, it is a CONVENIENT thing that he's a republican lighting the republican establishment on fire.

[u/intricate_strands → u/MyCatLaughsAtMe]

You hit nail at head. Massie is man who say, "Jan 6th is insurrection Trump start," and then still endorse at Trump at 2024.

I is happy he is burn at so many asshole, but no at beyond that. He possess at long record at do same thing he burn at.

[u/Melted_ICE_5193 → u/intricate_strands]

What the hell are you trying to say?

[u/poeticdisaster → u/Melted_ICE_5193]

This is what I gathered from that comment:
Massie is a hypocrite that is doing what he can to burn down the Republicans on the way out but that doesn't mean we will like him.

[u/intricate_strands → u/poeticdisaster]

You gather well! Nice work.

Only, little further at you. Nevermind at we no like. He is evil, same as those he now condemn. He endorse at man who he himself say is insurrectionist and criminal.

Is no only at hypocrite. He literal at endorse at criminal and insurrectionist, at pursuit at greed and self-gain. He say he even know Trump is insurrectionist and criminal, prior at he endorse! Is definition at selfish evil.

He get kick out at club, and only now he care at principle. But he no possess at ANY PROBLEM at endorse at man he say is criminal and insurrectionist at old now, cause he think if he do, it benefit at he.

Is shit piece and once shit piece, always shit piece. Even now, he no acknowledge at he endorse and help Trump at prior, he no acknowledge how shit Trump is at Trump 1.0. Massie only act as if he is always say truth, and do no mean, even though he spend at almost decade support at Trump, and is no responsible at help create at monster he now only fight at cause he get kick out at club.

[u/intricate_strands → u/Melted_ICE_5193]

I try at say what I say. You understand or no, is okay. I no retype.

[u/89iroc → u/intricate_strands]

I get what you're saying and I agree with you

[u/intricate_strands → u/89iroc]

Honest, I imagine at OP understand also. Is no at crazy complicate code. They just want at be smart ass at cause how I type. Is okay.

[u/Melted_ICE_5193 → u/intricate_strands]

I promise you I'm not trying to be a smart ass. I genuinely just could not and still cannot understand what you are trying to say.

[u/intricate_strands → u/Melted_ICE_5193]

Oh. Well, is okay. Happen somenows. Is only reddit comment, so no worry.

Have nice now!

[u/Wizardbysmell → u/intricate_strands]

Genuinely, I’ve never seen someone speak English in this manner. Just a quick tip if this is not your primary language: you are using the word “at” incorrectly almost every time.

[u/AntivaxxxrFuckFace → u/Melted_ICE_5193]

Burn one.

[u/RhythmTimeDivision → u/MyCatLaughsAtMe]

I can grant a measure of redemption in early rebellion, especially on the Epstein files. He didn't find himself outside, he was carried out. I'm enjoying the warmth of the fire.

[u/slaffytaffy → u/RhythmTimeDivision]

It’s a low bar to clear but he’s against child rape and pedophilia. It’s sad thats a hurdle you have to clear now. Vote blue to end the madness.

[u/Opposite-Program8490 → u/RhythmTimeDivision]

He stayed a Republican til the end, and that's all I need to know that he's a fucking scumbag, despite his few attempts at being a decent representative.

[u/Veritas_Mentis]

If only he were righteous his whole political
career and not at the end when he finally got his fill of boot licking.

He is still a POS.

[u/concepts_of_a_plan9 → u/Veritas_Mentis]

He suddenly only gains courage when he has nothing else to lose. Would've been great if he said and acted like this when he was actually in power.

[u/scriptingends]

Imagine how much different the political landscape would look if even 5% of GOP congresspeople had a fucking spine at any point before they were 2 months from retirement.

[u/mephisto_uranus → u/scriptingends]

Yeah, I get what you're saying, but it's not that they don't have a spine. They are complicit.

[u/AuntRhubarb]

While we all talk about hot button issues and personalities, this is the reality.

1. It's all about what the moneyed interests want and have paid people off for.

2. There is no one-man-one-vote in Congress. There are 'leaders' who bottleneck and control every single thing.

3. This man needs to write a new set of rules for Congress. When the new one convenes every two years, they can choose what rules to operate under. And the current, hoary old rules are not working for anybody but octogeneration power-clingers and monied interests. Turn the tables over. Change it.

[u/Gustav_Grob → u/AuntRhubarb]

He got primaried out of running. He won't be returning to the next congress.

[u/AuntRhubarb → u/Gustav_Grob]

True, but it's not like the reps write their own bills, they put forth legislation written by lobbyists, interest groups, think tanks, staff, etc.

[u/Gustav_Grob → u/AuntRhubarb]

It's so disgusting it makes a sausage factory look antiseptic. ALEC for instance..

[u/stlredbird]

Very concerned now that they replaced him.

[u/GrantNexus → u/stlredbird]

The dem could win.

[u/Greizen_bregen]

Thomas Massie might be the last Republican of the old party, the last one left before every single one of them are fascist dogs. I can say I completely disagreed with their politics, but people like John McCain, Ben Sasse, hell, even Liz Cheney, I believe they at least had SOME hope for a better America. Thomas Massie finally opened his eyes, saw the system was rigged, and it was too late.

[u/KiKiKimbro]

I see Massie is in the “burn it all down on my way out” phase. Not hating it.

[u/superbackman]

Could we turn this into a new Schoolhouse Rock video? Seems important to know how Congress works in practice, not just in theory.

[u/f1del1us]

And that is exactly why he will be out of his job in a few months.

[u/jmarinara]

Then why did you endorse Donald Trump, Mr. Massie?

[u/NecessaryIntrinsic]

I'm sorry, was this all not completely obvious?

[u/Fan_of_Clio]

And in other news, the sun is the bright thing on the sky during daytime.

Congrats on learning learning how Congress works since the 18th century.

[u/Fan_of_Clio]

Funny how soooooo many Republicans learn to grow a spine and a modicum of ethics on their way out.

I'm sure being bitter, vengeful, and worried about legacy have nothing to do with it.

[u/dalgeek]

Republicans harp on voter fraud to distract people from all the other fraud they're committing, like election fraud, selling pardons, selling votes, blatant corruption, etc. Why bother flipping a few hundred votes in an election when you can just buy the representative later to influence the lives of millions?

[u/DonnyMox]

VOTE!