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Congress is about to reauthorize the Patriot Act
- mdorazio 7y agoIs there a name for the phenomenon where supposedly temporary measures (like tolls) have a disturbing tendency to become permanent because they benefit those in power in some way?
- mikece 7y agoSounds like every production environment I've seen in the last 20 years. [Stuff] hits the fan -- quick, apply this hastily assembled patch so we have time to think about how to fix it properly.... except we never do go back to fix it properly.
- randomframe 7y agoI agree, seems like it's always like this. Shady measures are taken up or new laws approved just for a bit, for that situation, and then they stay forever
- marcoperaza 7y agoIn fairness, plenty of sunsetting legislation is simply allowed to expire. Also, repassage often only occurs in exchange for important modifications.
- cfallin 7y agoI don't have an answer to your question, but my favorite (cynical) example of this phenomenon is the Johnstown Flood Tax on all alcohol sold in Pennsylvania (set at 18%). The tax was originally meant to help the town recover. The flood was in... 1936.
- albertsondev 7y agoΟυδέν μονιμότερον του προσωρινού -- Nothing is more permanent than the temporary. This is just sort of a universal thing.
- DoofusOfDeath 7y agoMy initial reaction when reading your question was to start composing a screed about the character of most lawmakers. But perhaps I'm making unfair assumptions. I'd love to get, from a lawmaker whom I trust to be honest with me, what this looks like from the lawmakers' perspectives.