Sounds good, but... Anyone know what RP did?
Posted March 18th, 2008 by JohnGalt300
output
For some reason I still get mail from NJPIRG. I went to a couple meetings a few years ago, and decided they were sort of a joke, but they still send me e-mail. I got this one today. It sounds good in theory, but obviously alot of good things sound good in theory.
Anyone know any details on this?
I'm happy to report on the end of an era...
Last Wednesday, Congress passed a law that -- we hope -- will end an era of
congressional self-policing that allowed the Jack Abramoffs of the world to play
fast and loose with our democracy.
Congress voted to do what 23 states already do -- use an independent office to
enforce ethics rules. The measure, which passed by a vote of 229-182, gives an
independent panel the authority to investigate allegations of ethical misconduct
against elected officials.
Click here to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi for coming through on one of her big
promises, to make this the most open and accountable Congress in history.
There's still work to be done, but this was a big step, and that we were able to
accomplish with the help of folks like you.
As Speaker Pelosi noted in her remarks on the floor of the House of
Representatives, we played a key role. She said, "The endorsements by these
nationally respected, independent, non-partisan validators will increase public
trust in the Congress' commitment to reform and our ability to police
ourselves."
To her credit, Speaker Pelosi faced opposition on both sides of the aisle and
ultimately followed through on her promise to the American people.
And thanks to you, for giving NJPIRG the support to push through this end of an
era.
We couldn't do it without you,
Bookmark/Search this post with:
-dup
-dup
Just like "independent" auditors?
Seems like an awful lot of corporate accounting scams have been occurring recently, as well.
Oh, and those "independent" FDA evaluations of new drugs based on statements by physicians being paid by the company of the drug being tested-
Edit: 544 Reasons
This was forwarded to me a month ago. I don't know who Charley Reese is, but his words are thought provoking.
Subject: Fw: 545 Reasons Why
THE 545 PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR AMERICA'S WOES
BY CHARLEY REESE
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code. Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy. Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 300 million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton- picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it.
No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
REPLACE THE SCOUNDRELS
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.
I can't think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them in IRAQ.
There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation" or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess.
Pointless
Why should I trust an "independent panel" when I clearly can't trust my own elected public officials? This strikes me as nothing more than further added bureaucracy. And what exactly does "ethical misconduct" entail? I would rather have a Congressman who follows the Constitution and picks up a hooker every now and then than one who is a boy scout but supports the unconstitutional measures that are passed in Congress on a frequent basis.
hey, all true Boy Scouts
hey, all true Boy Scouts follow the Constitution!
It is called plausible invisibility
All this does is give an "independent" organization money to operate and get favors from the very people they are supposed to be "investigating" - just like the PACs that were allowed to run wild. Good luck to them on their first Freedom of Information Act request.
This also sounds like all they will "investigate" are moral collapses like hookers and advances to teenagers on Capital Hill. Secret meetings, SPP traitors, war profiteering -- those are not nearly as fun to have on the news.
Perfect result for this Congress and the last one. "Let's hold hearings about steroids and marital infidelity! The War? What war? And Bernacke said we are going to be just fine...."