Comments on: Established Patterns

By: David

David — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:37:00 +0000

I don’t believe this is more of the same tactics. For one thing the lobbying is done by individuals – each time an individual writes to their congressional leaders Downsize DC simply automates the process of sending it to your entire delegation rather than having you do it three times – and for another, the pieces of legislation that Downsize DC pushes for are pieces that cut back the intrusion of government, such as the Enumerated Powers Act asking Congress to cite the constitutional authority for each law they pass.

By: Reach Upward

Reach Upward — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:42:31 +0000

It’s a nice sentiment, but pretty much all well-meaning lobbying efforts end up creating corruption. DownsizeDC is right about too much power being in the hands of centralized government. It goes hand-in-glove with my May 13 post on the Cult of the Presidency (see http://reachupward.blogspot.com/2008/05/idol-worship.html ). But trying to solve the problem with more of the same tactics that brought us the problem is likely not the answer.

By: David

David — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:19:38 +0000

Well said Jim. I think that shift in focus is exactly what I have been looking for in my efforts to define what it takes to improve American politics.

By: Jim Babka

Jim Babka — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:55:13 +0000

Thanks for the mention and your support. You’ve touched on something important, and I’ll put it another way. We want to divert the focus and power away from the media, political parties, and incumbents, and place it instead into the hands of the people and under the limits of the Constitution. We think that in order to do this we need to divert our attention from partisan politics (legislators, as you put it) and over to transpartisan action (legislation) — from politicians to principles, and from votes to values. If we can change that focus, then the rest will follow. In other words, build a large army in the process of lobbying, then the right politicians will show up to capture our base and make it his or her constituency!