Comments on: Reconciliation and sunset provisions

By: Mrs Whatsit

Mrs Whatsit — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:04:06 +0000

This article in the London Times about appalling problems in an NHS hospital is fascinating and terrifying — most of all for the comments. I got through the first four pages and found almost none that tried to defend anything about the British health care system. This ought to be printed out and placed on the desk of every American legislator.

tinyurl.com/ybu978b

By: Bob From Virginia

Bob From Virginia — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:47:07 +0000

Another agreement, a government capable of passing unwanted laws for the people’s benefit is also capable (eventually) of eliminating elections for the people’s benefit.

As for silly arguments, what other reason for living is there other than silly arguments. You would hate the Mediterranean culture where silly arguments are the sole means of social interaction.

Also the British monarchy was not an illegitimate authority, at the time it was historically the sole legitimate authority. The revolution was about “beginning the world anew” according to Tom Paine.
The Americans evolved into a different people which articulated an ideology to explain itself, but it was new, different and a break with history, very illegitimate in the eyes of tradition.

By: Geoffrey de Bouillon

Geoffrey de Bouillon — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:35:09 +0000

Bob,

We are basically on the same page. I don’t want to keep a silly argument going, but the Founders rejected an entire system and put something better in its place. I would argue that they were law abiding, but they rejected illegitimate authority. Maybe an unimportant difference. I think we are in violent agreement.

At ant rate, “Occasionally the tree of Liberty must be watered with the blood of Patriots and Tyrants.”
– Thomas Jefferson

We are rapidly approaching that point, and we agree on that.

By: Geoffrey de Bouillon

Geoffrey de Bouillon — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:22:02 +0000

Bob,

At ant rate, “Occasionally the tree of Liberty must be watered with the blood of Patriots and Tyrants.”
– Thomas Jefferson

We are rapidly approaching that point, and we agree on that.

By: Gray

Gray — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:57:28 +0000

When does it cease being “with consent of the governed?”

When we do more than just march and yell, I suppose….

By: Gray

Gray — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:56:25 +0000

They execute with no margin for error, while making plenty of errors.

That’s an excellent point. Well said, huxley. I’m gonna steal it for use in casual political conversation in the cubicles….

By: SteveH

SteveH — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:53:22 +0000

Every law written should have a 5 year sunset clause so it can be revisited. Theres not an American living that isn’t breaking some stupid law that stupid politician dreamed up every single day.

By: TmjUtah

TmjUtah — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:25:45 +0000

Amen.

By: Bob From Virginia

Bob From Virginia — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:09:17 +0000

GdeB wrote “But the founders, who knew about “self-government” and what is required for it, would have denied that we only obey the laws with which we agree.”

Funny using the founders as an example of law abiding citizens considering how they handled their legal disagreements with the British.

It comes down to this, (and here is where I think we all agree) we are feel obligated to obey laws mandated by the public and encoded by Congress, we are under no obligation to obey laws cooked up by a self proclaimed governing class, indeed we may be obligated to disobey them and even fight them, for the good of the state, just as the founders did.

By: betsybounds

betsybounds — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:59:28 +0000

Jeez. Curiouser and curiouser.