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Journal smittyoneeach's Journal: Sen. Ben Sasse could help lead real reform 20

Journal by smittyoneeach

A classically liberal speech worthy of study:

To that end, in the coming months, I plan a series of Floor speeches on the historic growth of the administrative state. This will not be a partisan effort; it will not be a Republican senator criticizing the current administration because it is Democratic. Rather, it will be a constructive attempt to understand how we got to the place where so much legislating now happens inside the executive branchâS--for this kind of executive overreach came about because of a great deal of symbiotic legislative underreach. Republicans and Democrats are both to blame for grabbing more power when they have the presidency; and Republicans and Democrats are both to blame in the legislature as well for not wanting to lead on hard issues and take hard votes, but rather to sit back and let successive presidents gobble up more authorities. We can and we must do better than this. And the century-long look at the growth of executive branch legislating over the next many months will be an attempt to contribute to the efforts of all here, both Democrats and Republicans, who would like to see the Senate recover some of its authorities and some of its trustworthiness.

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Sen. Ben Sasse could help lead real reform More

Sen. Ben Sasse could help lead real reform

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  • The politician would not have the job if he failed to serve his financiers. The entire breakdown occurs through the corruption of careerism. It is the voters fault for not reminding the politician who they are supposed to serve. It is the voters' own apathy and avarice that is being exploited. The only difference between now and the past is the fading facade. People are losing the talent for hiding their feelings.

    our entitlement budgets are completely fake; we are entering an age where work and jobs will be

    • Time will change all that once he understands who butters his bread.

      I can never figure out whether you're endorsing the status quo, or willing to take the risk/pain associated with moving the operating point of our government closer to the theoretical design specification.

      • No, for the millionth time. An observation of what is happening is not an endorsement, not by me. That comes from 98% of the voters, which up to the present, still includes you. Your "investment" is just too deep to put at any risk. I fully understand, whether you believe it or not is hardly relevant. The fear of loss is more than obvious.

        • OK, so you're Pontius Pilate. I wouldn't stake much on the Almighty being impressed.

          • Just telling you all choices are personal...

            • Not all effects of choices are personal.

              • Regardless. That's just one of the things to consider in your choice.

                • So you're saying we have free moral agency this week? So often you're pandering to the flesh, and discussing people as though they were livestock with occasional guitar.

                  • The choice to live like livestock is yours. I have never said anything different.

                    • Wait, I thought the political system was a rigged, closed loop. No change was attainable, though the efforts of those who disagree are certainly open to mockery. Which mockery, too, would seem useless if you're correct.
                      How are we, politically, just so much livestock if we retain any choice, wise one?

                    • You, the voter rigged it. You make the choice to let it happen for various reasons that have all been well documented in the most basic books on psychology. You have all the wisdom to stop yourself, but you choose the status quo. It takes no wisdom to notice that. You make it too obvious. Stupidity is genetic, ignorance is a choice. Yours and d_r's matching tribalism is what stands out, little else.

                    • I'm willing to go about half way with you here. I think that there are some organizational behavior patterns that make some outcomes relatively likely. In particular, population density is a key player. The greater the density, the greater the economic specialization, the happier people are pitching their sovereignty to whoever tells the juiciest lies.

                      You have all the wisdom to stop yourself

                      Who is wise?

                    • Yes, in "dense" environments your actions are more likely to directly affect others. Obviously those people should have a voice on what can be done. That is logical. The juicy lies come from those who claim they are more worthy of preferential treatment.

                      Who is wise?

                      You are!

                    • As you say. I just got wrecked today on the Amazon SysOps Administrator Associate exam, so you'll excuse me if I don't agree.

                    • Don't agree with what?

                    • Your assertion that I'm somehow "wise".

                    • Damn! Of all the things I've said, how could you deny that?!

                    • I have to be honest, and admit that such talents as I manage are on loan from you-deny-Who.

                    • Okay, Rush...

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