What is/should be the role of congress?

[turnandshoot4]

I've got a couple of questions for you INGO. Call it a "find your political roots" post.

What is/should be the role of congress?

How do you know that congress is representing the will of the people?

 

[Carmelbythecorn]

I've got a couple of questions for you INGO. Call it a "find your political roots" post.

What is/should be the role of congress?

How do you know that congress is representing the will of the people?

Role: To uphold the Constitution.

Know: Probably when a percentage of people are upset at any given time.

 

[turnandshoot4]

If that is thier role then why would we need a congress? The supreme court "upholds the constitution." Allegedly.

All I see congress doing is making laws that make it more difficult for the common man.

 

[gvsugod]

Something that governs on a far smaller scope than they currently do.

 

[rambone]

Congress should meet once a year, pass a budget, and go home.

Secondly, their role should be to repeal standing laws.

 

[Bunnykid68]

Congress is the opposite of Progress. Think that might clear a few things up.

 

[mrjarrell]

Well, it depends on which wing of congress you're talking about, the house or the senate. The house should represent the people. The senate should represent the interests of their states. That's their historical role. Unfortunately, they do neither. They represent special interests, lobbyists, corporations and the people who can afford their ear. As rambone said, they should meet for a very limited time, adjourn and return to their districts and states, as they used to do.

 

[turnandshoot4]

Congress should meet once a year, pass a budget, and go home.

Secondly, their role should be to repeal standing laws.

Are there emergency provisions?

At what point do they stop repealing laws? Where is the line drawn? Should they take us to a state of nature? Do they repeal laws for private citizens or for everyone, business included?

 

[turnandshoot4]

Well, it depends on which wing of congress you're talking about, the house or the senate. The house should represent the people. The senate should represent the interests of their states. That's their historical role. Unfortunately, they do neither. They represent special interests, lobbyists, corporations and the people who can afford their ear. As rambone said, they should meet for a very limited time, adjourn and return to their districts and states, as they used to do.

How would anything that is good on a national level be handled?

If the house represents the people why should the senate represent the states? Can't they both represent the people?

 

[turnandshoot4]

Congress is the opposite of Progress. Think that might clear a few things up.

True. The question is HOW could this be fixed?

 

[gvsugod]

Well, it depends on which wing of congress you're talking about, the house or the senate. The house should represent the people. The senate should represent the interests of their states. That's their historical role. Unfortunately, they do neither. They represent special interests, lobbyists, corporations and the people who can afford their ear. As rambone said, they should meet for a very limited time, adjourn and return to their districts and states, as they used to do.

This is how it was designed to. The 17th Amendment changed that with the direct election of Senators.

 

[mrjarrell]

Are there emergency provisions?

At what point do they stop repealing laws? Where is the line drawn? Should they take us to a state of nature? Do they repeal laws for private citizens or for everyone, business included?

The Last Test of Democracy: Part Four, The Great Moratorium, by L. Neil Smith

You never stop repealing laws. We suffer from law pollution. There are literally millions of laws on the books (including regulations and other penalty bearing bureaucratic writings).

 

[mrjarrell]

How would anything that is good on a national level be handled?

If the house represents the people why should the senate represent the states? Can't they both represent the people?

That's not the way the founders wished it to be. It was that way, up until the 17th amendment passed. And it worked really well. The house represents us and the senate is supposed to rep the states. As it is now, neither of them represent the people or the states. Representing the people, as you suggest that both might do, is a big step towards democracy and mob rule. Something else the founders abhorred.

As for "good" being accomplished, that's not their job. "Good" in the eyes of most means reallocation of wealth. Congress has very few jobs that are Constitutionally mandated or allowed. In most cases they have overstepped their boundaries and acted extra-Constitutionally. I can't think of anything "good" they've done in my lifetime that they didn't initially cause. Lowered a few taxes? They raised them in the first place. And they never get rid of taxes, they just shuffle the deck chairs.

 

[buckstopshere]

True. The question is HOW could this be fixed?

I think the only way things will change is if any congressman or senator voted for anything unconstitutional they are immediately removed and charged with treason.

Without accountability, nothing will change. Yeah, there's that argument that they can lose their job but until there are real consequences to destroying this country, the next parasite will just do the same thing.

IMO

 

[cobber]

I think the only way things will change is if any congressman or senator voted for anything unconstitutional they are immediately removed and charged with treason.

Without accountability, nothing will change. Yeah, there's that argument that they can lose their job but until there are real consequences to destroying this country, the next parasite will just do the same thing.

IMO

Who exactly would have the responsibility of removing and trying said violators? A federal court? The Congress itself? The DOJ?

There is an easier solution: voting.

Anyone reminded of the Bolshevik Revolution, when 'enemies of the people' were routinely liquidated? If that's the route you really want to go, consider the result that could come about (a terror-driven police state, with an extensive Gulag).

For all the hyperbole here, the US is not close to that. Yet. We shouldn't wish for that 'solution' to our problems.

 

[.45 Dave]

Congress is where you send the politicians you don't want making decisions in your home state.

 

[edporch]

I've got a couple of questions for you INGO. Call it a "find your political roots" post.

What is/should be the role of congress?

How do you know that congress is representing the will of the people?

See US Constitution, Article I, and Bill of Rights...

 

[Carmelbythecorn]

Congress should meet once a year, pass a budget, and go home.

Secondly, their role should be to repeal standing laws.

+1 for this post (if I could)

 

[J_Wales]

As of late, I would say the proper role for Congress is dipped in tar, rolled in feathers, and tied to a split rail hoisted on the shoulders of Patriots.

 

[Blackhawk2001]

I like the political system in H. Beam Piper's "A Planet for Texans". It's available at the Gutenburg Project if anyone want to check it out.