Congress can't read. We can read, but Congress can't. Or maybe they can but choose not to. Same result.
They passed the 1,000+ page stimulus bill without reading it because it had to be acted on in just a couple of days - at least that's what they told us. Funny how less than 10% of that money has been spent so far.
They are considering and possibly voting today on a 1,500-page "cap and trade bill" that promises to ruin America as we know it - and most Americans are against it. It's just many of our illiterate-acting Members of Congress are for it.
A 300-page amendment was added to the bill yesterday.
Think back with me a couple hundred years. Can you imagine how long it would have taken someone in Jefferson's day to write - longhand with a quill pen - 1,000+ pages?
Think back to the monks who spent years copying the Bible longhand. By the way, depending on type size and reference material, a Bible is approximately 1,400-1,500 pages. The "cap and trade bill" roughly approximates the size of a Bible in page count - so how long do you think it might take you to read the bill?
I have a solution. You know how when we download or install software that we have to "agree" to the fine print terms? Well, here's my plan. Before a Member of Congress would be allowed to vote on a bill, they would have to attest - under oath - that they read the entire bill.
This should make the bills a whole lot shorter - maybe just a few pages. This would limit bills to a single issue - this needs to happen also. This would eliminate anyone saying that they hadn't read the bill. Doing so would be perjurious.
If the bill is just to big, too wordy, or too complex for these busy guys and gals to read, then they'll have to write fewer of them or scale them back. The staff people were not elected and should not be relied upon to read the bills that the Members are voting on. That why the Members were hired elected.
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This is party politics at it's Zenith.
They vote as they are told by the party leaders. In this case Pelosi or Reid. They are scared to death of her.
Steve ~That is an excellent idea
Lenn~ You have to admit Pelosi is pretty scary
Lenn,
I agree, but there are more of them than there are of her, and there are more or us than there are them. Time to recruit new people. :)
Steve
Hugh,
Thank you. Now, how do we go about doing something like this? :)
Steve
Steve,
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the politicians aren't even embarrassed when they have to reveal that they didn't read the bill they're voting on. I don't vote for a representative to be nothing more than a flack for their party leadership.
Rich
Rich.
Isn't this a fine mess that we've gotten ourselves into?
We must make changes. They need to go. :)
Steve
They should be scared to death of US. We'll have to let the Senate know how WE feel.
Kenneth,
Absolutely. It's probably time to repeal the 17th amendment also. :)
Steve
I was just talking to my daughter about people like to 'baffle with b.s.' assuming that either no ones going to 1.) read it all 2.) or their going to tune out.....but if they really listened/read they see.....that it was all smoke......:-).
Steve, I couldn't agree with you more. And, for once, I have nothing to add. You pretty much summed it up.
Liz,
Thanks. So much smoke that it should just stuck in a bucket of water. :)
Steve
Patrick,
Thank you for your agreement. I really appreciate hearing from you. :)
Steve
I so agree with you! Lets hope they read, pay attention and understand the bills. Since we're dreaming, can we dream that the read and comprehend the entire bill?
Cheryl,
I agree, but I'll settle for just having read it since I don't give them a lot of credit for comprehension. :)
Steve
Steve - I love the new game... Pass bills at breakneck speed then complain that they didn't read it, have time to read it, or the urgency of the situation required them to pass it immediately. Call something a pandemic and you can get any bill passed. These bill are all the same - spending bills pandering to constitutencies with no oversight or debate because it is a national emergency. Had enough yet?
Ryan,
All three branches of the federal governmant are out of control, and the one who has the best chance of fixing things is Congress - the first one to shrink from its Constitutional duties. :)
Steve
Steve,
Sad case of affairs in Washington. We must fight to stop this in the Senate!!
Show up at a Tea Party near you!! Numbers matter!!
Alice,
I agree but it's going to be hard to convince a bunch of people who know that they are better and smarter than the rest of us that they work for us and should listen to what we have to say. :)
Steve
Hey Steve I read this blog and it made me think of your post.
See we are not the only ones who think this way!!
The Brevity Act: Time for a 28th Amendment
by Bob Gale
"I am respectfully proposing a 28th Amendment to our Constitution. I call it the Brevity Act.
Alice,
Wow! This needs to move to the front of the line. Thanks for sharing this. :)
Steve
Maybe the people should enact a bill...'No Congressman Left Behind' to follow suit of 'No Child Left Behind.' Congress, read the bills before you vote!
Tony,
If it takes this type of measure to get some responsibility ... :)
Steve