This is something I can’t stop thinking about, especially after reading Plato and his warnings against democracy. You’re making me want to read Ezra’s book!
I'm not sure "gridlock" is a bad thing. I don't want the government passing more crap. We need to repeal and shut down 80% of our government. My proposal is that to pass anything new should require at least a 66% majority vote (75% or 90% might actually be better).
Noted! I almost decided to cover that angle in the essay. If government only makes things worse, gridlock is good. If government on autopilot makes things worse, gridlock is bad.
Just guessing but I'd be inclined to say that it would be easy to find one hundred "bad" things the government passes for every *one* "good" thing they pass.
Do I want my social security check ten years from now? Darn right I do, I've been paying into that system for almost fifty years. Do I think it's the best approach? Nope. Even a basic benefit from the government like Social Security could use significant improvement.
Do I want the corn farmers to get a subsidy? No. Do I want the dairy industry to get a subsidy? No. Do I want billions of dollars spent on experimental shots? Absolutely NOT! Do I want to send financial aid to support wars across the world? Absolutely NOT! Do I want my legislators wasting time/money re-naming post offices? Heck no. The list is endless.
And what do we even need Senators and Congressmen for at all if the executive branch is just going to issue tyrannical mandates on a whim?
You ask some good questions! I’m laughing! The dark side of gridlock means we can’t even adjust the things that look bad and wasteful at this point. Thanks for your comments!
Think of gridlock as putting on the brakes. A necessary step before you make a radical change in direction. Our government needs a radical change of direction.
This is something I can’t stop thinking about, especially after reading Plato and his warnings against democracy. You’re making me want to read Ezra’s book!
I'm not sure "gridlock" is a bad thing. I don't want the government passing more crap. We need to repeal and shut down 80% of our government. My proposal is that to pass anything new should require at least a 66% majority vote (75% or 90% might actually be better).
Noted! I almost decided to cover that angle in the essay. If government only makes things worse, gridlock is good. If government on autopilot makes things worse, gridlock is bad.
Just guessing but I'd be inclined to say that it would be easy to find one hundred "bad" things the government passes for every *one* "good" thing they pass.
Do I want my social security check ten years from now? Darn right I do, I've been paying into that system for almost fifty years. Do I think it's the best approach? Nope. Even a basic benefit from the government like Social Security could use significant improvement.
Do I want the corn farmers to get a subsidy? No. Do I want the dairy industry to get a subsidy? No. Do I want billions of dollars spent on experimental shots? Absolutely NOT! Do I want to send financial aid to support wars across the world? Absolutely NOT! Do I want my legislators wasting time/money re-naming post offices? Heck no. The list is endless.
And what do we even need Senators and Congressmen for at all if the executive branch is just going to issue tyrannical mandates on a whim?
You ask some good questions! I’m laughing! The dark side of gridlock means we can’t even adjust the things that look bad and wasteful at this point. Thanks for your comments!
Think of gridlock as putting on the brakes. A necessary step before you make a radical change in direction. Our government needs a radical change of direction.