The Congressional Cult of Mammon

[Rakkasan]

One thing our For Fathers didn't anticipate was that by giving Congress control over our nations Budgets, they gave them the keys to the kingdom. As it stands now, a majority in Congress can (and just did) hold the Nation hostage, and demand what they will. The Judiciary branch has no effect on the budget(they only determine the constitutionality of laws, an have no effect on the budget), so they cant check Congress, and the Executive branch can only Veto bills (which can be overridden by a 2/3 majority from congress). If the President wants the country to not shut down, he has to cave in at some point so the Nation can pay it's bills(For example paying our troops). This is an over simplification of the situation, but it pretty much spells out the effect.

Things are indeed broke, but like every civilization since the beginning of history, those in power eventually become corrupted by it, and those without money or resources are continually pushed down until they get sick of it, and revolt in one form or another. Our last Congressional election was a small revolt as anti-incumbent fever struck the U.S. Unfortunately since money is the current currency of votes, we elected people with the same values as those we voted out. We elected people who were beholden to the same massive amounts of special interest money, that the people we booted out were. The name changes, but the money stays the same. We are not electing people who serve "our" interests, we are electing people who serve Mammon.

[Ozarks Tom]

The founding fathers never envisioned "career politicians". Term limits is the only answer to the continuing robbery of our national treasury.

[watcher]

Originally Posted by Rakkasan

One thing our For Fathers didn't anticipate was that by giving Congress control over our nations Budgets, they gave them the keys to the kingdom. As it stands now, a majority in Congress can (and just did) hold the Nation hostage, and demand what they will. The Judiciary branch has no effect on the budget(they only determine the constitutionality of laws, an have no effect on the budget), so they cant check Congress, and the Executive branch can only Veto bills (which can be overridden by a 2/3 majority from congress). If the President wants the country to not shut down, he has to cave in at some point so the Nation can pay it's bills(For example paying our troops). This is an over simplification of the situation, but it pretty much spells out the effect.

Things are indeed broke, but like every civilization since the beginning of history, those in power eventually become corrupted by it, and those without money or resources are continually pushed down until they get sick of it, and revolt in one form or another. Our last Congressional election was a small revolt as anti-incumbent fever struck the U.S. Unfortunately since money is the current currency of votes, we elected people with the same values as those we voted out. We elected people who were beholden to the same massive amounts of special interest money, that the people we booted out were. The name changes, but the money stays the same. We are not electing people who serve "our" interests, we are electing people who serve Mammon.

You might just want to check again about the courts not having any power over the budget. Seems to me there have been many a cases where the court has ruled the government had to spend money on something.

[OkieDavid]

Originally Posted by watcher

You might just want to check again about the courts not having any power over the budget. Seems to me there have been many a cases where the court has ruled the government had to spend money on something.

Yes, the ones that jump to mind are the numerous American Disability Act lawsuits where government agencies must install various devices regardless of cost. Printing multiple language ballots is another "court ordered" thingy that has budgetary consequences. Ditto for court ordered Environmental Impact Statements and additional studies..... OK, I'll stop for now.

[Rakkasan]

Originally Posted by watcher

You might just want to check again about the courts not having any power over the budget. Seems to me there have been many a cases where the court has ruled the government had to spend money on something.

Have you ever seen a supreme court ruling that stopped a budget that was passed?

[Rakkasan]

Originally Posted by OkieDavid

Yes, the ones that jump to mind are the numerous American Disability Act lawsuits where government agencies must install various devices regardless of cost. Printing multiple language ballots is another "court ordered" thingy that has budgetary consequences. Ditto for court ordered Environmental Impact Statements and additional studies..... OK, I'll stop for now.

No one is disputing that the Government bureaucracy hinders the Republic. We are talking about Our elected officials being bought by money.

[OkieDavid]

You stated that the judiciary had no effect on the budget (sentence 3) in YOUR post. I was just pointing out examples that demonstrate your statment is inaccurate. I was making no reference to elected officials. Perhaps you care to defend your statement that the judiciary has no impact on the budget?

[salmonslayer]

I think you are referring to the most recent budget increase and it was largely a made up issue. The government still takes in money and there was never any danger in not paying the troops. This recent boondoggle was all about allowing the government to borrow even more money and personally I would have liked to call the bluff and see what really would happen. Might force some of the criminals in Congress to get serious about cutting fat.

[Rakkasan]

Originally Posted by OkieDavid

You stated that the judiciary had no effect on the budget (sentence 3) in YOUR post. I was just pointing out examples that demonstrate your statment is inaccurate. I was making no reference to elected officials. Perhaps you care to defend your statement that the judiciary has no impact on the budget?

The Judiciary branch can only have an affect on a LAW that is passed. The Congressional budget is not a Law per se, so the Judicial branch has no say in it.