Politics should be local as the Founders intended
Sierra Times
by Jeff Adams
04/20/06
Part of the genius of how the framers of the U.S. Constitution set things up was that the Constitution divided and dispersed authority and power. By creating a limited, bottom-up form of government that left the majority of power in the hands of the member states of the union, elected officials were more accountable to those whom they represented. The late Tip O’Neill, former Speaker of the House, was famous for saying, 'All politics is local.' While in a sense this was true, it doesn't seem so today. Over time, our form of government has been literally turned on its head. We have an ever-centralizing, top-down government that claims unlimited authority and power. Elected representatives appear to view themselves as unaccountable to those they are supposed to represent (the citizens of their district, state, county, city, etc., that vote), and seem to represent special interests that finance their campaigns and lifestyles. So what to do about this?
http://www.sierratimes.com/06/04/19/Adams.htm
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
by Jeff Adams
04/20/06
Part of the genius of how the framers of the U.S. Constitution set things up was that the Constitution divided and dispersed authority and power. By creating a limited, bottom-up form of government that left the majority of power in the hands of the member states of the union, elected officials were more accountable to those whom they represented. The late Tip O’Neill, former Speaker of the House, was famous for saying, 'All politics is local.' While in a sense this was true, it doesn't seem so today. Over time, our form of government has been literally turned on its head. We have an ever-centralizing, top-down government that claims unlimited authority and power. Elected representatives appear to view themselves as unaccountable to those they are supposed to represent (the citizens of their district, state, county, city, etc., that vote), and seem to represent special interests that finance their campaigns and lifestyles. So what to do about this?
http://www.sierratimes.com/06/04/19/Adams.htm
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
rudkla - 21. Apr, 16:35
