If you’re
looking for an excellent example and an inside look at how political gridlock
works to stifle action on critical issues, you need to read this well written
account by Lindsay Wise with McClatchy news service:
This is why only 14% of
registered voters approve of the job Congress is doing; 78% disapprove; and 9%
are unsure.[Monmouth U. RV poll 8/4/16.]
This is the reason "Right
Track - Wrong Track" polling results continually indicate widespread
belief that the country is on the wrong track, in spite of the fact that President
Obama’s approval ratings continue to rank over 50% -- which is always a
milestone for any President.
Congressional
reformers should look closely at this article and dissect it at each junction
in the process to develop proposals for change. A major focus should be on the ability
of legislators to add unrelated amendments and riders to legislation designed
to address a specific issues. [See my post:Unrelated
Amendments & Riders – Tricks of the Political Trade]
Unfortunately, these
political shenanigans continue each day Congress is in session and are designed
to frustrate constructive action on major issues. They further divide and polarize
the legislature and the general public as the “blame game” plays out with 24/7
media coverage & news bites, tweets & blog posts, editorials & op-eds
and general Internet chatter.
The source of overall
public discontent with “government” seems clear – the solutions are not. Interesting,
the current Presidential campaigns seem to be missing an important opportunity
to address strategies and specific solutions to address the current state of
governmental dysfunction.
August 31, 2016. bySTEPHANIE
PSYLLOS,JOHN
LAPINSKIandSTEPHANIE
PSYLLOS
While Democrats and
Republicans running for Congress have blamed the opposing party for the gridlock
in Washington,
a majority of voters (55 percent) said both Democrats and Republicans in
Congress are equally to blame for the stalemate, according to the latest NBC
News|SurveyMonkey Weekly Election Tracking Poll.
However, nearly double the number of voters
said Republicans in Congress are more to blame (30 percent) than Democrats (14
percent). . . (click
to continue). Results
have an error estimate of plus or minus 1.0 percentage points. For full results
and methodology, clickhere
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END REPRINT --------------------------------
HOUSTON (Aug. 29, 2016) –
House Republicans are playing with our lives when they play political games and
refuse to fund Zika virus treatment and research.
Last year, we learned
the Zika virus was on its way to America. In February, the President
asked Congress for $1.9 billion in emergency funding for mosquito control,
treatment, and development of a vaccine. House Republicans slashed that request
by almost 50%, to $1.1 billion, and then, in August, left for a month-long
vacation without passing the requested legislation or approving any funds for
this critical effort. Not a penny!
While the political
blame game plays out in the papers and on TV, there are over 90 confirmed Zika
cases in Texas, 30 in Harris County, and2 dead
babies—one here in Harris County.
The fact is that House
Republicans, including John Culberson, control Congress andwill not allow a
vote on a “clean” Zika bill, without any adding unrelated provisions
addressing displays of the confederate flag, amendments to the Clean Water Act,
or unpopular restrictions on Planned Parenthood.
It is crystal clear
which party puts political games ahead of our health andour babies’
health.
I am running for
Congress because I am tired of our do-nothing Congress.
When political
gridlock in faraway Washington,
DC, threatens the lives of
Houstonians right here and now, it’s no laughing matter and it’s not a game.
It’s a matter of our elected officials not being responsible to the people who
elected them. And, now, it’s also a matter of life and death.
I heard a respected
political pundit the other day expressing confusion over the fact that the
latest "Right Trak - Wrong Track" poll indicating widespread belief that
the country was on the wrong track, in spite of the indications that the
President's approval ratings continue to rank over 50% -- which is always a
milestone for any President.
"Uhmmm," I said to
myself, "it make perfect sense to me. I wonder why it's not obvious to him
(the pundit)."
I decided to do a little
research and found a recent July 17, 2016, article reporting on this perceived
conundrum. According to the report on the lates Wall Street Journal/NBC News
poll. . .
"Some 73% in the new
survey say things have gone off-course, with only 18% saying the nation is
headed in the right direction. . . For the third straight month, 51% of
voters say they approve of President Barack Obama’s job performance, his highest
marks sincetaking the oath of office for a second time, in early 2013."
"Together, the two indicators mark a rare occurrence: Usually presidents
and their party take the blame when Americans are unhappy. But while the nation
is unified in dissatisfaction, many don’t see the party in power as its
cause." July17, 2016 WSJ
The latest Bloomberg Politics
Poll conducted by Selzer & Company, Aug. 5-8, 2016, indicates 68% wrong
trak; 25% right direction; 7% unsure. During the first half of August,
President Obama's approval rating has averaged 53.5% according to 4 separate polls.
I'm a political wonk so I
watch and read a lot about the current Presidential campaign. I hear Donald
Trump and his Republican surrogates constantly emphasizing the fact that nearly
three-fourths of American's think the contry is on the wrong track. Thus, they
imply -- it is obvious the people want a change in leadership at the top. When
they're promoting their party or Presidential nominee, they rarely point out
President Obama's high approval ratings.
But wait a minute, why
are people so dissatisfied with the direction of the country if the President's
approval ratings are so high? Well, you have to look at couple of other poll
numbers.
How about this one -- 14%
approve of the job Congress is doing; 78% disapprove; and 9% are unsure. Monmouth U. RV poll 8/4/16.
The highest figure this year for Congressional approval was 19%. Further,
Democrats in Congress garnered a modest 37% approval while
Republicans saw only a 20%
approval.
It seems clear to me that
people are not upset with the direction of the country because of President
Obama – why would his approval rating be over 50%?. It doesn't even seem to be
a highly partisan dissatisfaction – 37% approval is only moderately better than
20%, and not really anything to be terribly proud of. What’s so revealing is
the combined Democrat-Republican rating of 14%.
You should be hearing bells
and whistles about now. It’s not the leadership at the top that has the country
so upset – it’s because of the complete and utter inaction and dysfunction in
the U.S. Congress – it’s called Congressional gridlock and it is the root of
the publics’ belief that the country is headed in the wrong direction (and that's what this blog is all about).
The BrennanCenter for Justice at the New York University School of Law, a nonpartisan law and policy
institute that seeks to improve our systems of democracy and justice, has indicated that “Although often overlooked, one of the duties of the vice president
is to act as president of the Senate, including issuing advisory opinions about
internal Senate procedure.”1
I am writing to you to remind
that you are in a very unique position at a critical point in our nation’s history
to issue an historic Advisory Opinion on internal Senate procedures that could
be a highlight of your legacy and a manifesto to challenge and guide the future
operations of the United States Senate.
First of
all, as President of the U.S. Senate you are in the foremost position to issue
such a manifesto. Secondly, your 36 year career as an active U.S. Senator,
combined with nearly 8 years as Vice President and Senate President, has given
you a perspective unmatched by any individual. Thirdly, your apparent
retirement from elected office, gives you a credibility and neutrality which is
necessary to speak on a controversial issue that demands bipartisanship, yet
defies resolution because of its powerful political scope that benefits both
major political parties. Finally, as the Obama Administration draws to a close
and a new Presidency has yet to be decided, and a new Congressional session
looms, the timing could not be better to set the stage for a new era Senatorial
reform.
As you and
all Washington, DC insiders know well, certain Senate
procedures and rules are a major contributor to governmental gridlock and
dysfunction. The excessive increase in the so-called “silent filibuster”; the
arcane procedure known as a Senatorial “hold”; and the ability of Senate
Leadership and Committee Chairs to ignore Constitutionally-mandated functions (advise
and consent) because there are no specified procedural time limits (e.g.
Supreme Court appointment), are a few examples of rules and procedures that demand
changes.
Some will
argue that such changes require a two-thirds vote of the Senate, but that
argument has been dispelled by both Republicans and Democrats.
Again,
citing the BrennanCenter, “The Constitution nowhere requires a two-thirds vote for changing
Senate rules and does not even mention filibusters. The Constitution states
that ‘each house may determine the rules of its proceedings,’ and the document
requires a two-thirds vote only for impeachments, expelling a member, ratifying
treaties, overriding presidential vetoes, and proposing constitutional
amendments. There is simply no reason to believe that the framers of the
Constitution thought a two-thirds vote could be required for the Senate (or the
House) to change its rules. The straightforward inference is that, as a
constitutional matter, only a simple majority is required.”2
Without going into the details of these extremeextra-parliamentary
practices that both parties have self-imposed on House & Senate procedures,
it is these very practices that have led, in large part, to the current
dysfunctional government and the increasing public unrest.
It is my opinion that if you dig deep into the search for
solutions you can find it in the simple concept of "majority rule."
For the last several decades inside political manipulation by both parties has
undermined this basic concept, and as a result given rise to a devilish concept
of "minority rule." This nightmarish concept defies compromise and
feeds on government stagnation, obstruction and inaction on increasingly
perplexing problems and issues that demand action -- that's why the public is
mad – that’s why they have lost their trust and respect for government.
Not only
do these practices grind decision making to a standstill, but they allow for
increased leverage for lobbyists and moneyed influences. These practices are
the "demons of democracy" and have led to the public’s perception
that Congress is basically useless as a governing body – e.g. approval ratings
less than 10%.
As Thomas
Jefferson pointed out way back in 1809, "Where the law of the majority
ceases to be acknowledged, there government ends, the law of the strongest
takes its place, and life and property are his who can take them." He also
said, "All... being
equally free, no one has a right to say what shall be law for the others. Our
way is to put these questions to the vote, and to consider that as law for
which the majority votes."3
The “demons of democracy” have
so distorted the democratic process envisioned by the Founders and the Constitution,
as to make it unrecognizable. No elected President (Democrat, Republican or
Independent) can achieve their stated or envisioned goals for the country
because of these constraints. The result is that the majority public and
winning candidate are denied any opportunity to see their vision actually
implemented.
We must
have trust in the majority rule system as it may not always deliver the results
that we, as an individual, envision; however, if decisions are really bad, the
majority corrects itself by changing direction. The founders and our
Constitution were based on the concept of majority rule and we have now drifted
away from that cornerstone.
Mr. Vice
President, your leadership on this vital issue at this critical time can help
turn the tide of what is becoming a dangerous decline in the public’s belief in
our democratic form of government and our political leaders from both major
parties.
(comment in response to Jonathan Rauch's article published in The Atlantic, July/August, 2016 issue -- "How American Politics Went Insane") This is an excellent article that focuses on many of the
underlying reasons that have led to the sad state of our current dysfunctional
government and the increasing public unrest. It is my opinion that if you dig
deep into the search for solutions you can find it in the simple concept of
"majority rule." For the last several decades inside political manipulation by
both parties has undermined this basic concept, and as a result given rise to a
devilish concept of "minority rule." This nightmarish concept defies compromise
and feeds on government stagnation, obstruction and inaction on increasingly
perplexing problems and issues that demand action -- that's why the public is
mad.
The deep-rooted underpinnings of this increased
dysfunction are Congressional rules and procedures all designed to frustrate the
concept of majority rule -- abuses of the filibuster process in the Senate
(silent filibuster & extensive use); senatorial holds; the “Hastert rule” in
the House; riders & unrelated amendments, etc. Not only do they grind
decision making to a standstill, but they allow for increased leverage for
lobbyists and moneyed influences.
These are the "demons of democracy" that, as this article
indicates have led to, "the general public’s reflexive, unreasoning hostility to
politicians and the process of politics. Neurotic hatred of the political class.
. ." As Thomas Jefferson pointed out way back in 1809,
"Where the law of the majority ceases to be acknowledged, there government ends,
the law of the strongest takes its place, and life and property are his who can
take them."
But, solutions are at hand. I agree with the article which
indicates, "Restoring the earmarks that help grease legislative success requires
nothing more than a change in congressional rules. . ." This is true and every
Washington politician and political insider knows it. Yet reforms to correct the
process are few and far between because both parties use the "demons" to their
advantage to manipulate political outcomes.
The public, the media, political reformers and the few
remaining "statesmen" in Congress must focus their efforts like a laser beam on
the "demons" and press for changes to restore majority rule. As I point out in
one of my blog posts, you have to trust the majority rule system as it may not
always deliver the results that you want -- if decisions are really bad, the
majority corrects itself by changing direction -- if you can't live with
majority rule then you should probably seek another alternative, somewhere
else.
