David Broder's newest column has a particularly laughable premesis: the American people have too much influence in Washington.
Fortunately, Broder tells us, HE is not running for anything so he has persepctive on the problem. Real, good, honest perspective. For example, the problem with the Immigration bill was the influence of the American people on their lawmaker. No word about the influence of media figures like Lou Dobbs on the debate, either, because media figures all have an inherently disinterested position on every issue, right, David?
Another "loss" to David is Congress overruling the fast-track authority of George W. Bush to sign trade agreements. For some reason, having the people's branch, Congress, go over documents which may decide the future of the jobs that Americans have and the air that Americans breathe, is a bad thing. Having a lame duck President that is accountable to no one make decisions is, of course, the original intent of the framers.
Here's a bold proposal, David. Perhaps the problem isn't that Congress responded to the will of the voters on a specific issue. Perhaps the problem is that people are demanding change on the wrong issues because the media is teaching them to think a specific way about them. Perhaps the problem isn't us, David. Maybe it's you.
This might explain, David, the absence of the American people's "influence" in Washington on issues like Iraq, Healthcare, Globalization, or Global Warming.
Broder says:
The point is pretty basic. Politicians are wise to heed what people want. But they also have an obligation to weigh for themselves what the country needs. In today's Washington, the "wants" of people count far more heavily than the nation's needs.
You can win elections by promising people what they want. But you win your place in history by doing what the country needs done.
And they wonder why the Washington Post is going under. The people don't know what's good for them! Now, open wide and let Papa Broder spoonfeed you some more of this slimy green stuff.