8/2/2019

9 Responses to “Twitchy: Epic Tweetstorm about Congress”

1. So? Congressman and Senators exist to represent the people who sent them to DC. They haven’t been doing that for 50 years. That’s the main problem. Who cares these people don’t get their moment in the sun? Further, I hate these, “we no longer have bi-partisan legislation”. You know why that is? Its because the “Bi-partisan” legislation 9/10 was either R’s giving the D’s 75% of what they wanted. OR both parties getting together to betray the Average American in favor of the Rich Donors.

   rcocean (1a839e) — 8/2/2019 @ 1:53 pm

   
   

2. transformative, how about passing legislation on time, and under the budget camps, there is no incentive to spend less, only 23 republican out of 53 and 5 democrats out of 47 voted against the budget deal,

   narciso (d1f714) — 8/2/2019 @ 1:58 pm

   
   

3. Thanks DRJ, this is an excellent Twitter thread. It seems like there are some things that Congress ought to be doing which would make a huge difference:

   1. Claw back much of the power that they have let pass to the Executive branch. The Affordable Care Act is a great example of this: note how many times in that legislation they said “the Secretary of HHS shall decide” or “the Secretary of HHS shall create.” Is it any wonder that this legislation is so awful that its supporters as well as its opponents now want to junk it?

   2. Stop with omnibus budgets and go back to each Congressional committee proposing its own separate budget for consideration. The Executive will be in charge of ensuring that each committee operate within the overall budgetary framework, but this approach would also incentivize the committees to do their work early instead of waiting up until some crisis moment.

   3. De-fang the regulatory agencies by forcing them under more strict Congressional review. Stop letting them write far-reaching regulations that are not affirmed by Congress. That would conceivably give junior members something to do, as they could be put in charge of riding herd on the regulators. Sure you would be empowering the Ilhan Omars and Rashida Tlaibs of the world, but maybe it would teach them a measure of responsibility instead of just leaving them free to showboat and grandstand.

   I think those three things would go a long way toward making Congress a worthwhile institution again.

   JVW (54fd0b) — 8/2/2019 @ 2:20 pm

   
   

4. I like this Glassman fella.

   Paul Montagu (35419a) — 8/2/2019 @ 2:54 pm

   
   

5. So much time is spent raising money BECAUSE OF THE LIMITS ON THE AMOUNTS OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUUTIONS.

   people who retire because they wanted to engage in policy but ended up just dialing for dollars will be replaced by people who don’t really care about making policy and don’t mind dialing for dollars

   Or the only policy they care about is getting some appropriations. If thats what people differ on, it is possible to satisfy nearly everybody.

   And then you have some people interested in policy – but it is all wrong – like AOC.

   Sammy Finkelman (e806a6) — 8/2/2019 @ 3:30 pm

   
   

6. America has the best government money can buy. [Thank you, SCOTUS.]

   A quick look at Mr. Glassman’s career history, though, suggest he has been part of the problem in the past. He’s a bit behind the curve, too:

   Americans don’t want to be governed, they wish to be entertained.

   So run, Oprah. Run!

   This slippery slope began when the country went from creditor to debtor; when credit card Ronnie bought glittery faux prosperity on Uncle Sam’s cuff while Nancy waltzed with Frank for the cameras; those glitzy, brassy, rhinestone cowboy days when the likes of Boesky and Trump were lionized as whiz kids. It took nearly 40 years for this nightmare to ferment and it’s not going to be washed away overnight.

   DCSCA (797bc0) — 8/2/2019 @ 4:04 pm

   
   

7. rcocean — I think you’re missing the point.

   the problem is that the current congress is set up to attract people who do not care about legislating, or about representing the interests of their districts, because those aren’t rewarded.

   this sets up a long term erosion of the power of the representative legislature, and makes it increasingly likely that in a generation or two the US will abandon representative democracy entirely.

   this is a long-term trend that dates back decades.

   aphrael (e0cdc9) — 8/2/2019 @ 5:26 pm

   
   

8. I think those three things would go a long way toward making Congress a worthwhile institution again.

   I agree.

   An recognition on the part of constituents that compromise is necessary in a 51-49 political environment would also help.

   Dave (1bb933) — 8/2/2019 @ 8:15 pm

   
   

9. “First God created the Idiot. That was for practice. Then He created Congress.

   Imagine you were an Idiot. Imagine you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”

   –Mark Twain

   Gawain's Ghost (b25cd1) — 8/2/2019 @ 11:54 pm