I’ve been re-reading the Federalist Papers and was struck by
Madison’s caution about factions in Number 10. He writes:
“Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate
and virtuous citizens… that measures are too often decided not
according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor
party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing
majority.”
That certainly describes the current Democratic majority in
Congress, but it also describes the recent Republican majority,
from Tom Delay’s K Street shakedown, to Bill Thomas’ imperious
running of the Ways and Means Committee, to exploding earmarks, to
keeping the vote open beyond precedent on the Medicare prescription
drug bill.
These tactics are unacceptable from either party and they help
explain why both parties in Congress are held in such low esteem.
There is too much at stake – including the continued existence of
this American experiment – to continue these games of Gotcha and
Payback when you assume control.
If the Tea Party movement has stood for anything, it is to
restore our Constitution and the principles of limited government.
That includes limiting the power of whatever party happens to be in
the majority at any given time.
As you take over the majority in Congress, I urge you to treat
the minority party with respect and honor. You have been elected,
but so has the other side. You have a duty to represent your
constituents, but so do they. Your majority is
not permanent, so set standards of majority behavior that you would
like to see when you are again in the minority. Do unto others as
you would have them do unto you.
That does not imply being wishy-washy. It does not suggest a
limp bipartisanship or even compromise. We need you to push hard
for a conservative agenda.
But a conservative agenda is not limited to spending, taxes and
national security. It must also include restoring the role of the
legislative branch to be on an equal footing with the executive. In
recent years Congress has been so bitterly divided that it could
not resist the encroachments of administrations of both parties.
This is not healthy for our republican form of government. It
destroys the checks and balances that were so carefully designed by
the founders.
Bring back the rules that allow each side to have its say. Bring
back the legislative procedures that require bills to be debated
first in committee and amendments to be germane to the subject of
the bill. Restore the budgeting process. Stop passing laws that are
retroactive. These procedures all were developed to ensure full and
fair debate of all matters before the legislature. Short-circuiting
them creates bitterness and resentment.
On the state side, I implore you Republicans to resist the
temptation to enshrine your positions through gerrymandering. There
should not be any “safe seats” for members of Congress. That is
precisely what enables Members to ignore the people and it leads to
arrogance and bad policy.
Unlike in years past, the vigilance of an awakened population
will not end with the election. “Considerate and virtuous citizens”
will be watching very closely and you will hear from us if you
squander this opportunity to put things right.
