A modest proposal.
In contemplating the stunning choices of candidates presented to us in this election, I have to question the wisdom of our founding fathers in having Congressional elections in the same year as Presidential elections. And I'll tell you why. And even give a relevant example.
The why is easy. Divided government is good. "Gridlock" is good. As Thomas Jefferson is said to have said, "That government is best which governs least."* Mark Twain is said to have said "No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session." Whether they actually said them or not, they were unquestionably right. And when we elect our President the same time we elect our Congresscritters, we don't know what we're going to get until it's too late. All too often, the President's coattails sweep into power members of his own party in Congress, much to our sorrow.
And as an example, I give you William Jefferson Clinton. Elected in 1992. Handed a crushing defeat in the 1994 midterm elections. And why? Because he tried to do what he wanted to do. (Remember the "Assault Weapons" ban? Nothing like a completely stupid and useless piece of legislation to energize the opposition. And how about "Hillary Care"?) The remainder of his presidency was spent battling a Republican Congress and fighting off impeachment. He was completely ineffective. All his "achievements" were scaled-down Republican programs. Whet did he accomplish? Meaningful welfare reform and a semblance of fiscal responsibility.
And then there's another example-- Our current Commander-In-Chief. A Republican President with a Republican Congress and what does he do? Every bad thing that Republicans accuse Democrats of doing-- profligate spending, centralization of power, and an obnoxious foreign policy. What ever happened to low taxes, limited government, and avoiding foreign entanglements?
I only wish that our third President named George would heed the words of our first President named George in his Farewell Address. It's a damn shame. We are once again cursed with a George III, but this time we don't have a George Washington to take his place. Not even a Benedict Arnold. Dark days indeed.
But if things were different-- If we had the opportunity to consciously select divided government or gridlock or whatever you want to call it. If we already knew what we had in the White house when we voted for Congress (or vice versa)....
How different things might have been.
Edited to add: Although Jefferson is often said to have said it, it appears that Thoreau is known to have said it in "Civil Disobedience," or something quite similar. "That government is best which governs least" appear to be his exact words Still, it seems like a pretty damn Jeffersonian sentiment.
The why is easy. Divided government is good. "Gridlock" is good. As Thomas Jefferson is said to have said, "That government is best which governs least."* Mark Twain is said to have said "No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session." Whether they actually said them or not, they were unquestionably right. And when we elect our President the same time we elect our Congresscritters, we don't know what we're going to get until it's too late. All too often, the President's coattails sweep into power members of his own party in Congress, much to our sorrow.
And as an example, I give you William Jefferson Clinton. Elected in 1992. Handed a crushing defeat in the 1994 midterm elections. And why? Because he tried to do what he wanted to do. (Remember the "Assault Weapons" ban? Nothing like a completely stupid and useless piece of legislation to energize the opposition. And how about "Hillary Care"?) The remainder of his presidency was spent battling a Republican Congress and fighting off impeachment. He was completely ineffective. All his "achievements" were scaled-down Republican programs. Whet did he accomplish? Meaningful welfare reform and a semblance of fiscal responsibility.
And then there's another example-- Our current Commander-In-Chief. A Republican President with a Republican Congress and what does he do? Every bad thing that Republicans accuse Democrats of doing-- profligate spending, centralization of power, and an obnoxious foreign policy. What ever happened to low taxes, limited government, and avoiding foreign entanglements?
I only wish that our third President named George would heed the words of our first President named George in his Farewell Address. It's a damn shame. We are once again cursed with a George III, but this time we don't have a George Washington to take his place. Not even a Benedict Arnold. Dark days indeed.
But if things were different-- If we had the opportunity to consciously select divided government or gridlock or whatever you want to call it. If we already knew what we had in the White house when we voted for Congress (or vice versa)....
How different things might have been.
Edited to add: Although Jefferson is often said to have said it, it appears that Thoreau is known to have said it in "Civil Disobedience," or something quite similar. "That government is best which governs least" appear to be his exact words Still, it seems like a pretty damn Jeffersonian sentiment.
Labels: Politics
posted by Jack at 8/20/2004 09:24:00 PM
1 Comments:
Here is an exact Jefferson quote you might like: "divided we stand united we fall" He was referring to the virtues of tolerance and diversity in religion, but it is also applicable in the context of supporting a divided government. Coincidently, it is also the title of my blog.
I started the blog after having an epiphany that was remarkably similar to your sentiment in this post:
But if things were different-- If we had the opportunity to consciously select divided government or gridlock or whatever you want to call it. If we already knew what we had in the White house when we voted for Congress (or vice versa).... How different things might have been.
Only I though how different things could be if a significant block of voters voted that way all the time. Always voting for divided government. Every time. In '06 it meant voting straight Dem. In '08 it means voting Republican for President. There is much more on my blog on the topic including links to scholarship in support of divided government. Welcome aboard.
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