More bad ideas about politics.

[wombat_socho]

Larry Sabato is one of those political science professors that the MSM dredges up every four years to tell us what's wrong with the country and how we elect our Glorious Leaders. I have my own opinion about the guy, but I'm curious: based on his proposals for reforming the Federal Government, do my friends consider him an inspired genius or, like James Poulos, an astoundingly ignorant douchebag who should be kept well away from the young and the ignorant? (Jane Galt, who asks quite reasonably, "We're not going to do it, so why are we even bothering to talk about it?" Because, Jane, sometimes it's fun to point and laugh. Cruel, but fun.)

Comments

[chebutykin.livejournal.com]

He has some good points, but I think he misses the target a lot as well.

Expanding the houses of Congress: I think that's pretty damn silly. Expanding the Senate by giving bigger states more power completely abolishes the original idea of the Senate (which gives smaller states a bigger voice). And expanding the House to 1,000 would probably just make it bigger, not better.

Term limits for Congress and judges: I'm all for it.

Balanced budget: I agree with the idea, but I'm wondering how it would work in practice.

Single six-year term for presidents: I like it. It seems to me that so much presidential energy now goes into re-election that the maintenance of our country suffers.

Line item veto: I'm undecided. On one hand, it would probably cut a lot of awful riders off bills. On the other hand, it gives the Executive branch one hell of a lot of power over the Legislative branch, and the balance of power would tip.

Mandatory service: I'm a weak "yes" if the service is simply community service and not necessarily military. I'm a definite no if the service would only be military.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

Single six-year term for presidents: I like it.
It works so well for Mexico, after all. :P

Actually, I'd be okay with expanding Congress so that it's in line with the original population ratio. Sure, they'd have to meet in RFK Stadium instead of the Capitol, but I see that as a plus: no more year-round Congress!

The Senate proposal is easily the most laffo of the bunch, though. Aren't poli-sci profs required to know the history behind our system any more, or did Sabato manage to sleep through that class?

[chebutykin.livejournal.com]

The only part of the "restructuring the Senate" bit that I don't think is laughable is the bit about giving DC a senator. I can see plusses about having 51 Senators instead of 50.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

DC needs a Senator and Congressmen like I need more holes in my head. If Washingtonians don't like the way the Constitution euchres them out of statehood they can move to Maryland. Come to think of it, a lot of them have.

[chebutykin.livejournal.com]

I just like the idea of having 51 senators instead of 50. As an annual Smackdown organizer, I know how sucky it is to have an even number of people voting. *grin*

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

That's why we have a VP, you know. He's #101 if the other split down the middle.

[chebutykin.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes. Forgot about that bit.

High school social studies were so long ago!

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

Yes, but the Praxis II exams were just last month.
PH33R MY 1337 S0C14L STUD13Z SK1LLZ!

[von-krag.livejournal.com]

Create a constitutional mandate that all able-bodied young Americans must devote at least two years to national service of some sort.

I thought the "Emancipation Proclamation" put a end to Federal tolerence of slavery? As to the line item veto and balanced budget those can be handled w/o tampering w/what we have now. Food for discussion yes but a serious plan I think not.

BTW I was drafted in '72. I was on my second tour in SE Asia. I think the volunteer military is the best idea yet for the body politic of the US.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but the draft isn't slavery, it's the Feds calling the unorganized militia to arms. Irrelevant anyway since nobody at the Pentagon wants it and nobody in Congress (well, almost nobody) is going to vote for it.