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And yet from the 1930s to the 1970s every decade had several major pieces of legislation. Laws with detailed provisions—-not just outlines to be filled in by th

And yet from the 1930s to the 1970s every decade had several major pieces of legislation. Laws with detailed provisions—-not just outlines to be filled in by the President. The last three major pieces of legislation were PPACA (2010), Dodd-Frank (2010, an outline not a law), and the Patriot Act (2001). Something has clearly changed from the era of the Social Security Act, the Civil Rights Act, and Clean Water Act.

betterunix2 6y ago
In the 1930s and early 40s Congress sat around arguing, refusing to allow the US to enter the war, despite the fact that our allies were being defeated and our economic interests were being threatened (to say nothing of the moral obligation we had to save Jewish lives, particularly after turning away ships full of Jewish refugees). In all likelihood our late entry resulted in a longer, costlier war -- we had to fight for more territory and against more fortified defenses, and our allies were less able to fight alongside us after so many defeats. Look, there is a good argument that Congress has delegated too much authority to the executive branch and some of that authority should be withdrawn. That is not the same as saying that the executive branch should not make any determinations whatsoever and should only be given exact instructions by Congress. We should always be wary of going to the extremes in either direction -- the Romans gave the executive far too much power and we would not want to repeat their mistake, but an executive with too little power would be equally disastrous for the country.
- bradleyjg 6y ago
  You’re not wrong but it’s a strange argument to make right now. It’s as if we had the thermostat set to 50, I make an argument we need to crank it up, and you made a long detailed argument about how it can also be set too high. Sure, let’s worry about that when the temperature hits 68.
  - betterunix2 6y ago
    It's more like we have several thermostats, some set too low, but you pointed to one that was set just right and said we should turn it up. OK the analogy is a bit strained. Maybe I should just say that I do not think the authority given to the FCC to make determinations about broadband speeds is an example of Congress delegating too much authority.
    - bradleyjg 6y ago
      Even if I were to agree, if you are going to delegate—-delegate. Delegating and then writing ineffectual letters seems like the least respectable standard operating procedure for Congress-people to adopt. It strikes me as somewhere between pathetic and contemptible.

betterunix2 6y ago

In the 1930s and early 40s Congress sat around arguing, refusing to allow the US to enter the war, despite the fact that our allies were being defeated and our economic interests were being threatened (to say nothing of the moral obligation we had to save Jewish lives, particularly after turning away ships full of Jewish refugees). In all likelihood our late entry resulted in a longer, costlier war -- we had to fight for more territory and against more fortified defenses, and our allies were less able to fight alongside us after so many defeats. Look, there is a good argument that Congress has delegated too much authority to the executive branch and some of that authority should be withdrawn. That is not the same as saying that the executive branch should not make any determinations whatsoever and should only be given exact instructions by Congress. We should always be wary of going to the extremes in either direction -- the Romans gave the executive far too much power and we would not want to repeat their mistake, but an executive with too little power would be equally disastrous for the country.

bradleyjg 6y ago
You’re not wrong but it’s a strange argument to make right now. It’s as if we had the thermostat set to 50, I make an argument we need to crank it up, and you made a long detailed argument about how it can also be set too high. Sure, let’s worry about that when the temperature hits 68.
- betterunix2 6y ago
  It's more like we have several thermostats, some set too low, but you pointed to one that was set just right and said we should turn it up. OK the analogy is a bit strained. Maybe I should just say that I do not think the authority given to the FCC to make determinations about broadband speeds is an example of Congress delegating too much authority.
  - bradleyjg 6y ago
    Even if I were to agree, if you are going to delegate—-delegate. Delegating and then writing ineffectual letters seems like the least respectable standard operating procedure for Congress-people to adopt. It strikes me as somewhere between pathetic and contemptible.