Most of the work of Congress is illegal and unnecessary. Congress is governed by a very specific set of guidleines called the US Constitution - more specifically, Article I, Section 8. There are only 17 areas (plus an enabling clause) where Congress has any jurisdiction. Health care is not one, and amnesty for illegals is not one.
I think back to freshman political sciense in college. We had to write from memory the Bill of Rights - every capital letter, period, comma, and semi-colon. Seemed dumb at the time, but I still remember much of it verbatim.
It's time Congress be forced to memorize Article I in it's entirety, and especially Secrtion 8. Perhaps they need tutoring to get this done.
Congress last declared war on December 8, 1941. Congress has no authority to bailout private companies or take them over. It has no authority for health care. It has no authority for education. It has no authority over the arts or labor unions or baseball. It has no authority for regulating the environment except as it relates to interstate commerce. Yet, that has not stopped Congress from going into those areas or allowing the Prsident to do so.
The health care debate and cap and trade should never have happened. These are not powers of the government. The amnesty debate that is brewing needs to go away. The government is not allowed to be in the mortgage business or student loan buisness. Congress is quite limited in power - by design.
If they don't know what they're allowed to do, it's time we remind them. Someone needs to hold them accountable - and that's us.
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Short and sweet! YES and class beings this November!!! They are too involved in the process and not concentrating on the results!!!
Great Post. Perhaps Americans need to be educated on what Congress's job is..... and hold them to it.
Steve:
Great post! Make them memorize it. Works with my kids. But in addition to that, congress doesn't need tutoring - it needs term limits. They shouldn't be there to make money or win never-ending future elections. They should have their full-time profession, get elected for 2 terms max, do what people elected them to do, and then go home and back to work.
They clearly are not following the constitution. I do hope that people can see through the hype and vote against any incumbent in Nov. That is just the beginning.
Wallace,
Asking candidates about the Constitution would be good campaign questions. :)
Steve
Kim,
I think that is a fantastic idea. Don't even know if they teach this in school anymore. :)
Steve
Mike,
I agree. Congress should get a small salary and that's it. :)
Steve
Dale,
It is just the beginning. We've got so much work to do to recover our great country. :)
Steve
Congratulations this post is now featured in the Silent Majority Group of Active Rain.
It's apparent that the current administration doesn't care what the constitution allows! They're going to pursue their own agenda, and they won't let the constitution get in their way.
Nicholas,
Thank you. I appreciate the support. :)
Steve
Jon,
Absolutely true - with support from Pelosi, Reid and others. :)
Steve
Steve, that pesky document is so restrictive. After all it only says what the Government cant' do to you and not what they can do for you.
JP
It's sad that they pay so little attention to our constitution. They need to listen or they need to leave. Thanks for sharing.
JP,
That's true. We have lost our self-reliant spirit. :)
Steev
Joseph,
That is very well siad. Thanks. :)
Steve
I think it is time that intelligent people ran for congress:)
Mike,
It's not intelligence per se. It's more common sense. :)
Steve