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Not Required
Author: TriSec
Date: 07/09/2011 11:09:15
A brief item this morning...I'm headed off to Spot Pond in a bit for a full day of kayaking. The weather is supposed to be great today, so we're hoping for 3 full sessions.
But let's talk briefly about Congress. Usually, this would be a recess week. Probably an awful lot of our legislators had to canceljunkets vacations so they could stay in the capitol and "work". Perhaps one or two 'town hall' events might have been cancelled, too.
Our erstwhile junior senator had no such events to cancel. In fact, he's never had a town hall meeting.
Probably nothing more than a minor, local-interest story, but isn't that a metaphor for the larger picture?
Think about it this way. Senator Brown hasn't had any town hall meetings, but he's not actually required to have any. So without the rule of law, he's simply not going to do it.
The same thing happens with business and regulations every day. Why do something that is going to cost time and resources if it's not required for you to do so?
But let's talk briefly about Congress. Usually, this would be a recess week. Probably an awful lot of our legislators had to cancel
Our erstwhile junior senator had no such events to cancel. In fact, he's never had a town hall meeting.
BOSTON -- Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who won last year's special election by tapping into populist voter sentiment, has yet to hold a public town hall meeting to take questions from Massachusetts residents.
Massachusetts Democrats, who are hoping to win back the seat once held by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, are tweaking Brown for failing to schedule a meeting to let members of the public express their concerns.
A Brown spokesman acknowledged Brown hasn't had a town hall-style meeting, but said he's attended more than 200 events in Massachusetts and is focused on creating jobs.
Brown won the office by labeling Kennedy's former seat the "people's seat" and burnished his everyman image by driving a pickup truck and wearing a barn jacket.
Democratic Sen. John Kerry has held five town hall meetings since Brown's election.
Probably nothing more than a minor, local-interest story, but isn't that a metaphor for the larger picture?
Think about it this way. Senator Brown hasn't had any town hall meetings, but he's not actually required to have any. So without the rule of law, he's simply not going to do it.
The same thing happens with business and regulations every day. Why do something that is going to cost time and resources if it's not required for you to do so?
Comments:
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Comment by 
BobR on 07/09/2011 11:44:06
BobR on 07/09/2011 11:44:06
This is why regulations are so important. "The self-regulating Marketplace" is a grand in theory and non-existent in practice. Corporations are required by law to think of shareholders first. That's a law that needs to change.
Comment by 
Raine on 07/09/2011 13:11:51
Raine on 07/09/2011 13:11:51
I wish this wasn't something we should HAVE to force people to do. They are public servants -- and as such -- they should be expected to serve. I do understand the bigger idea that you speak of, Tri.
Perhaps it is time to require congress members to actually show that they are doing actual constituent work during the times that they are not on the Hill? On the other hand, people need to be willing to hold their representatives feet to the fire -- and request for them to meet the public, no? Perhaps more civic associations could invite their senators and reps to self created town halls when they know they will be back in town?
People like Brown -- who are not that far from DC should have no problem with serving the needs of those they represent.
Perhaps it is time to require congress members to actually show that they are doing actual constituent work during the times that they are not on the Hill? On the other hand, people need to be willing to hold their representatives feet to the fire -- and request for them to meet the public, no? Perhaps more civic associations could invite their senators and reps to self created town halls when they know they will be back in town?
People like Brown -- who are not that far from DC should have no problem with serving the needs of those they represent.
Comment by 
livingonli on 07/09/2011 16:12:52
livingonli on 07/09/2011 16:12:52
If Unregulated Capitalism worked so well the first time around, Upton Sinclair would never had to write The Jungle.
Comment by 
trojanrabbit on 07/09/2011 16:30:31
He (and most other Rethugs and a few "D"s as well) are already close enough to the people they are representing.
K Street.
trojanrabbit on 07/09/2011 16:30:31
Quote by Raine:
I wish this wasn't something we should HAVE to force people to do. They are public servants -- and as such -- they should be expected to serve. I do understand the bigger idea that you speak of, Tri.
Perhaps it is time to require congress members to actually show that they are doing actual constituent work during the times that they are not on the Hill? On the other hand, people need to be willing to hold their representatives feet to the fire -- and request for them to meet the public, no? Perhaps more civic associations could invite their senators and reps to self created town halls when they know they will be back in town?
People like Brown -- who are not that far from DC should have no problem with serving the needs of those they represent.
He (and most other Rethugs and a few "D"s as well) are already close enough to the people they are representing.
K Street.
Comment by Raine on 07/09/2011 19:47:42
Raine on 07/09/2011 19:47:42
I think you may have nailed it Rabbit.
Comment by livingonli on 07/09/2011 22:05:27
livingonli on 07/09/2011 22:05:27
K street, C street, and the Koch brothers are partners in crime.
Comment by BobR on 07/10/2011 02:44:47
Koch has both a K AND a C in it... hmmm...
BobR on 07/10/2011 02:44:47
Quote by livingonli:
K street, C street, and the Koch brothers are partners in crime.
Koch has both a K AND a C in it... hmmm...
Comment by Raine on 07/10/2011 02:52:43
Raine on 07/10/2011 02:52:43
So 2 hippies walk into a bar....
An Irish pub.... and who is there?
Former General McChrystal and Tommy Franks... Strange.
An Irish pub.... and who is there?
Former General McChrystal and Tommy Franks... Strange.