did Congress not hear the message in November?

did Congress not hear the message in November?

I am stumped why the senate and house continue their old ways of negotiating.

For example the  current Tax cut bill, take it as one topic, yet earmarks, not related items/ off topic are being added to the bill daily.  The argument given is that how they get support for the "tax cut" bill.

I truly believe this "off topic" bartering is how we got in this fiscal mess and congress has eroded to satisfying special interests not the big picture.