The actual need for new laws (or changes to existing law) is pretty rare – probably less than a quarter of what actually happens. The rest is either feel-good legislation, look-like-we’re-doing-something-even-if-it-won’t-really-do-anything legislation, expand-the-government legislation, or pork.
To quote George Will from his CPAC speech, “We are…belabored with the idea that American gridlock is a terrible problem…American gridlock is an American achievement!”
February 24th, 2010 at 10:43 am
You think government paralysis is good?
February 24th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Government does two things well: overreact and nothing.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
“The mystery of government is not how Washington works but how to make it stop.”
-P.J. O’Rourke
February 24th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
“No man’s purse is safe while Congress is in session.” – Will Rodgers.
Of course the usual suspects will be crying “But what about the CHILDREN?!?”
February 24th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
YES.
The actual need for new laws (or changes to existing law) is pretty rare – probably less than a quarter of what actually happens. The rest is either feel-good legislation, look-like-we’re-doing-something-even-if-it-won’t-really-do-anything legislation, expand-the-government legislation, or pork.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
To quote George Will from his CPAC speech, “We are…belabored with the idea that American gridlock is a terrible problem…American gridlock is an American achievement!”
Amen.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Good, yes. Better still would be a year of government that can only repeal laws.