Monday, January 19, 2009
How laws are made in this country
Now here's my beef and I'm not crapping out on the digital TV transfer to take place on Feb. the 17th. I along with millions of other Americans probably had no idea this was even coming but we shouldn't be at all surprised as that's the way most laws are passed in this country these days. There really is no input from the public who put these rascals in office, they legislate everything under the sun often in the dead of night and I just want to be able to put my two cents in before they pass the next batch of laws is all. NO, they just go ahead and do it anyway. In a fully-functioning prime democracy the way it would have went is send letters out to your constituents first explaining why analog sucks or whatever and so then we can give our input in shaping the very laws that effect our everyday lives. THAT'S ALL, is that too much to ask?
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Funny that you should blog about this today, because earlier I was recalling that candidate Obama had mentioned when campaigning that he wanted to have some sort of Town Hall meetings all during his presidency if he were elected, and here on the eve of his inauguration I am wondering if he recalls that idea of his, I actually thought it was a good one. I mean truly, with most people having text messaging, cell phones, Internet access in addition to good old fashioned mail, we should all be able to get the info on laws up for consideration and have a chance to give our input prior to the polticians voting on it. But there is more than there should be to have to keep up with, that is one problem indeed!
ReplyDeleteNO, we can't be telling the messiah what we would like to have happen, he tells us and we believe it is in our best interests. We don't know enough to be doing the thinking. that's why we elected him to do everything for us.
ReplyDeleteOn any given day Z you can browse on out to the House and/or Senate websites and see just what sorts of laws are on the books. Of course you're basically up a shit creek if you should come to find one that causes you concern (that is unless you have some super power which can turn the tide vis' a vis' a telephone call or letter to your representatives).
ReplyDeleteOne of my oldest themes here since I started my blog over two years ago is there are way too many laws on the books but my second gripe is we don't have a properly functioning democracy. If we did my Congressman or Senator would keep me posted on all pending or proposed legislation and I'd be able to give my input - "I feel this bill is well-intentioned and noble but here's where it's problematic" - but that never really happens. BTW I ain't watching tv at all today.
ReplyDeleteBeth you mentioned FOCA (the Freedom of Choice Act) in an e-mail to me the other day and it dovetails perfectly with this blog. Now many Americans who voted for Obama probably weren't even aware of this proposed bill that goes beyond even Roe vs. Wade. They probably figured Obama is pro-choice, pro-Roe held their noses and looked the other way and voted for the guy. Now again if we had a properly functioning democratic system every single voting American going into the voting booth would have known all about FOCA and its various radical provisions and it might have swung the election the other way (although in all likelihood who knows?). This was never really brought up in the campaign and the msm made sure it would stay off the radar screen. For me the msm have become more than a nuisance in this country, they are socially and politically irresponsible and their influence does imo swing elections. Technically it was an aboveboard and honest election but only from a technical standpoint since we didn't have things like hanging chads but it left much to be desired. Obama certainly didn't bring it up, tout his support for FOCA and that goes straight to character imo and it's why I won't be watching the coverage today.
ReplyDelete"BTW I ain't watching tv at all today."
ReplyDeleteThat makes two of us. Nothing against Obama, I just never watched one in the past and I'm not about to change course now. I think to do so would relegate this inauguration to, not one of character content but, that of race.
You know the case could be made that if we lived in a truly color-blind society it wouldn't be that big a deal. You just know it's gonna be on all the stations, I don't think you'll even find a "Family Feud" on today.
ReplyDeleteYou know the case could be made that if we lived in a truly color-blind society it wouldn't be that big a deal.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Hello!!!
Like your posting today about the media all jumping on the Obama band wagon, you are not going to see a lot of negative press about him the next four years, we'll really need to use alternative sources to really keep track of what is going on, in the legislature, too, prior to their votes.
Laws can be broken down into two groups:
ReplyDeleteEssential laws - when a country or nation is new you need minimal laws dealing with bank robbery let's say or plagiarism, you really don't need public input on these as they're self-evident
All other laws - the people definitely need to be told what's going on. As it stands today most laws are passed at the behest of the special-interests, lie down with dogs and you wake up with fleas. Obama making promises to the abortion lobby doesn't represent change, instead it's same-old same-old.
I was just checking in at Patrick's blog and his latest comment was spot on with this discussion, that many laws are ways to buy votes, too, that should be another category right there!
ReplyDeleteHonestly I never heard of this DTV transition until I was told I have to buy a converter box with a $40 coupon from the government. Now here's a classic case of our Congress passing a law without our input. Digital TV is probably better yes but it's the principle of the thing so the real question is who's benefiting?
ReplyDeleteYou don't have cable TV?
ReplyDeleteIt's too expensive and what do you get for it? As my pastor says in the old days you had only a few channels but there was always something to watch, now you have over a hundred with nothing on.
ReplyDeleteI really don't watch anything on cable either, I used to watch Fox News more but don't anymore. I gotta remember that Glenn Beck is on Fox at 5 weekdays now. And we have to have the Weather Channel! That right there is worth having cable!
ReplyDeleteActually, how we have our phone, Internet and cable bundled, it really isn't terribly expensive for all we get.
My friend's mom said to me the other day that having a satellite dish (DirectTV) is actually cheaper than cable so if I were to go any route it'd be that one.
ReplyDeleteDepends on what you get vs. what you want, too. If you think you won't watch much TV, I wouldn't think cable or a Dish makes sense, but investing in a laptop and cable modem for Internet might be better (althought then you need that converter box for your TV) but a lot of shows also can be seen online, too.
ReplyDeleteMore TV could mean more to blog about though, lol.
Last night I saw a very interesting program on Nature about skunks, did you know their spray is highly flammable? Other nights it's just prison boredom, you can't even fantasize, J-Lo doesn't even do it for you. I don't even watch all of Idol anymore, some guy with a great voice'll come on and Simon has that pissy expression. Lights out, beddy-bye, tomorrow's another day.
ReplyDeleteDoes non-cable TV get the CW? They have the Friends reruns I usually watch at 10:00, although seeing them for the second and third time is getting old. Seinfeld is on locally at 11:00, too late usually. Wintertime seems more ideal for reading a good book under a warm blanket instead these days.
ReplyDeleteI read this morning that Congress has voted to delay the digital switch until June 12th, so you have time, Z-man (did they consult you before the vote??)
ReplyDeleteMust be reading my blog (lol). Yeah we get the CW and those Friends reruns too. 'Member a few months back I must've had a wee bit too much to drink before bedtime, must have blacked out with the tv on and woke up around 1:00 and there was a Friends rerun on. Better now, used to be in the old days when this happened you'd wake up to a huge Tom Snyder face on your screen at 2:30 in the morning, now that was disturbing!
ReplyDeletethe man is dead, can't you have anything nice to say about this journalistic icon? bitch!
ReplyDeleteYeah, you probably rank him right up there with Maury Povich.
ReplyDeleteSorry Lib Cousin but even you'd have to agree that Jennifer Aniston is better looking than Tom Snyder.
ReplyDelete