The founding document of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, states that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Today, however, just 21% of voters nationwide believe that the federal government enjoys the consent of the governed.I think a lot of politicians this year will discover that the consent they thought they enjoyed has been revoked.A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% disagree and say the government does not have the necessary consent. Eighteen percent (18%) of voters are not sure.
However, 63% of the Political Class think the government has the consent of the governed, but only six percent (6%) of those with Mainstream views agree.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Consent of the Governed
Rasmussen has an interesting poll on how voters feel about their government:
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2 comments:
"Consent of the governed" is a phrase that must mean something different today than when coined by the founders. The rapidity of news updating and dissemination demands that politicians vote according to their judgment as to the wishes of the electorate balanced against the circumstances of a world changing more rapidly than founders could have imagined. This does not abrogate the fact that politicians serve at buy permission of the people, but that the politician must make decisions as to what truly serves the people...vote accordingly...and suffer the consequences. Our government was never intended to be enslaved to current, and often fickle, public opinion. We would suffer greatly if that were to become law.
Term limits would be a positive protection in that a politician could not make a career of voting according to well heeled constituents/supporters, and serve for decades without real attention to rank and file voters. This will never be enacted by politicians as there will be all too many who find political service to government too lucrative and ego boosting. Perhaps some day the Supreme Court would find the current limitless, except for death, congressional seats unconstitutional.
As for now...make sure friends, neighbors and relatives understand the issues drawn by politicians choices and use the vote to remind them that blatant disregard of voters wishes will terminate employment.
I think the country gave it's consent, but later learned it had been scammed. Obama is not a president so much as he's a confidence man. However, the mark has wised up.
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