Comments on: Do federal elections really matter?

By: Gail Wiltse

Gail Wiltse — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 08:06:44 +0000

With today's technology, we have a way to prevent that DC problem in future. First we go back to having a representative for the same number of people a representative represented at the time of the Founding (which vastly increases the number of representatives but brings those representatives closer to their constituents). Second, we return to senators representing their State, and being elected by vote of their State legislature. Third, all congressional business is done via teleconferencing, so that representatives and senators do not need to move from their hometown (again keeping them closer to those they represent). Fourth we let the constituents set the pay for their representatives with the ability to withhold pay for the representative's failure to represent. Fifth, we make it mandatory that each representative make it extremely easy for constituents to contact them. And sixth, and last, we wipe the books of all unconstitutional laws and SCOTUS judgments — if it is not enumerated in the Constitution, it is not allowed for the federal government to do (and that includes repealing all executive orders and reducing the executive branch back to the role it was supposed to have, executing the orders of congress).

We do similar with our State legislatures, and voila, we have government under the control of the governed, once again.

By: MichaelBoldin

MichaelBoldin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:45:30 +0000

I am with you there!

By: Mike Maharrey

Mike Maharrey — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:07:28 +0000

T.S. Eliot on TAC. Sweet!

By: Jeff Matthews

Jeff Matthews — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:59:38 +0000

Not even in the short term do federal elections matter – that is, unless you generally like the way things and believe the 5% of the turf that divided these politicians is really any meaningful ground to gain.

The problem described in the article is even true on the state level. My state, Texas, operates much like Washington, D.C. We have a handful of people driving almost all policy from Austin and trying to be one-size fits all for 30 million people.

I think the state is little different than the federal government is little different than all the governments of the world. It seems that change (real change) in furtherance of liberty and opportunity might only be available through a world-wide cultural shift that will operate much like the "Domino Theory."

What is happening here is not much different than in Greece, Egypt, etc. Of course, our population is generally fatter and more comfortable, and we might be slower to move than they are.