This is why I think we should bring back anonymous voting for Congress. We have anonymous voting for civilians, but anyone can buy or threaten a Congressman into voting. Also, since we’d be judging Congress as a whole instead of as individuals they’ll be a lot more likely to at least appear to do a good job because even good and loyal Congress critters could lose reelection if people hated Congress.
I realize this is an unpopular opinion because “How do we know they’re doing their job.” Well, their job is to work with their classmates to do a good job for everyone, not just to earmark pork and get stock tips.
Your congressperson secures an earmark for a local project: “How wonderful, they are working hard to bring back dollars to our community!”
Everyone else’s congressperson secures an earmark for their district: “We need to stop these awful porkbarrel projects! What a waste of money!”
This is why I think we should bring back anonymous voting for Congress. We have anonymous voting for civilians, but anyone can buy or threaten a Congressman into voting. Also, since we’d be judging Congress as a whole instead of as individuals they’ll be a lot more likely to at least appear to do a good job because even good and loyal Congress critters could lose reelection if people hated Congress.
I realize this is an unpopular opinion because “How do we know they’re doing their job.” Well, their job is to work with their classmates to do a good job for everyone, not just to earmark pork and get stock tips.
Constituent: “You said you’d vote to close Gitmo”
Politician: “I did.”
Constituent: “The vote failed 437-1”
Politician: “That one vote was mine”
Constituent: “All 438 of you said that!”