Apr 3, 2009

Politics As Usual In The Legislative Branch Of Government

The Senate and Congress are part of the legislative branch of government. If they pass a law (after all that haggling and grandstanding) it can be vetoed by the Executive branch (i.e. the President) or totally thrown out by the Judicial branch (i.e. the courts). These branches of government are kept separate for a reason. To keep a system of checks and balances in place to keep demands of one majority getting out of hand. (learn more about the 3 branches of government)

The legislative branch always consists of a majority. Sometimes it's Republicans and sometimes it's Democrats. The minority always accuses the majority of trampling over their rights. The fascinating thing is that the Republicans and Democrats use the exact same arguments when in minority or majority in the Senate or Congress. Watch the following video as an illustration...

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Notice: Clip of republican saying reconciliation is wrong and then flashback to four years ago when it was right. Same for Nanci Pelosi (Democrat). IN other words, what's going on in the Senate and Congress is "Politics As Usual In The Legislative Branch Of Government".



Extracts from "Political Behavior In A Democracy"


Extract 1: In democratic politics, rules typically give a majority coalition power over the entire society. These rules replace the rule of willing consent and voluntary exchange that exists in the marketplace.

Extract 2: One Congress or legislature cannot bind the next, and so a political solution, other than the grant or sale of private rights, lasts only as long as the political muscle of those who push it. Any political program, land allocation, or treaty can be reversed as political pressures change.

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