The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Clueless Klein, Or, Why Congress Recalls A Toilet

Posted on | September 7, 2010 | 22 Comments

by Smitty

Reboot Congress points to a particularly ignorant 17th Amendment outing by Ezra Klein, who either cannot or will not explore the reasons why giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys (O’Rourke).

Congress these days recalls a toilet. Not the bowl full of the unmentionable, but rather the tank. Specifically, the float and fill valve. Any useful system is stable. That is, some ‘negative feedback loop’ lets it know when enough is enough. The increasing height of the float closes the fill valve. Otherwise, that valve would effectively be a leak, overflowing the tank and flooding the bathroom.

When we look at What Went Wrong with the US Government, we should ask: where is that negative feedback loop? How does the Federal Government know when enough is enough? This was the whole point of delegating a few powers to, and ensuring separation of those powers within, that Federal government by those savvy gents a couple hundred years back.

The 17th Amendment was like yanking the float out of the tank. The size, scope, debt, and incumbency rate of the Federal government have increased, while the approval rating has decreased. Why? Combined with Amendment 16 and the Federal Reserve Act (also born in 1913), the District of Columbia is become the Distributor of Cash. Economic vitality which should bubble up from a private sector economy instead trickles down from an opaque, unaccountable Federal Reserve bank, propping up State and local governments that need to face their corruption.

This is not to argue that a repeal of the 17th Amendment would result in a less corrupt Senate. Rather, the problem would move back to the State houses. However, if a Mitt Romney is Governor of Massachusetts when a Ted Kennedy is up for renewal, there may be greater likelihood of a different flavor of corruption going to Washington, rather than something as atrocious as “Kennedy seat” ever escaping an American lip.

On its own, repealing the 17th Amendment and removing this short-circuit around the States is insufficient, in my view. The States are now dependent upon the Distributor of Cash for day-to-day function. This is why, during the 2008 Presidential debate, when asked about the housing crisis, noted visionary Senator John McCain said he’d have the Treasury work with lenders on the housing crisis. Knob.

The Administration’s non-approach to leadership, in unholy matrimony with the an infamous Congress, results in planning consisting of borrowing unrepayable amounts of money to keep a dead system alive as long as possible. What happens when countries ‘unexpectedly’ balk and buying US debt, and taxpayers balk at paying more taxes is unclear, though the blame will obviously be laid at the feet of Bush.

Putting Senators back under control of States, removing the 16th Amendment and doing major surgery on the Federal Reserve will allow for the restoration of the feedback loop. We can put the float back on the fill valve. As the tank gets full, or budget outlays approach the revenue limit, a Senate representing the interests of the several States, instead of this perverse Distributor of Cash, would be more likely to tell DC to lay by its dish.

The admittedly simple example of the toilet tank is only meant to communicate the notion of a negative feedback loop. The Federal government, and the wreckage of the last century, are going to require massive effort at every level to recover. We The People have to demonstrate commitment to entering a post-Progressive era, or the powers that be will simply await for the storm to blow over. Folks, the work is still in the beginning stages.

Giving historical decisions like the 17th Amendment a cold, hard look is crucial. In the Smith dictatorship, the Ezra Kleins will be forced to undertake some engineering education. I feel that the practical, tangible, physical discipline of making something work would be a desperately needed intellectual laxative for this sort. That, or the recorded wailings would sell well.

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Category: Education, Progressivism

Comments

  • http://mindnumbedrobot.com mnrobot

    The Other McCain is Featured Blog over at the ‘bot this week. Prepare for a Robo-lanche! lol
    Have a great day.
    http://mindnumbedrobot.com/2010/09/07/blog-week-mccain/2688

  • http://mindnumbedrobot.com mnrobot

    The Other McCain is Featured Blog over at the ‘bot this week. Prepare for a Robo-lanche! lol
    Have a great day.
    http://mindnumbedrobot.com/2010/09/07/blog-week-mccain/2688

  • Joe

    Can you tell me where I can score an illegal toilet? You know the water wasting time that actually worked?

  • Joe

    Can you tell me where I can score an illegal toilet? You know the water wasting time that actually worked?

  • Adobe Walls

    Smitty
    “Giving historical decisions like the 17th Amendment a cold, hard look is crucial.”
    While I admire the consistency with which you continue to hammer the 17th amendment I’m not convinced that the results would diminish Federal power. Do we really believe that Massachusetts would send better ie conservative Senators to DC? I live in NC, I suspect that we would have two Dem Senators instead of one of each. While no amendments or SCOTUS rulings from the last 100 years should be exempt from scrutiny attempting to go back to what was will not always produce the desired results.

  • Adobe Walls

    Smitty
    “Giving historical decisions like the 17th Amendment a cold, hard look is crucial.”
    While I admire the consistency with which you continue to hammer the 17th amendment I’m not convinced that the results would diminish Federal power. Do we really believe that Massachusetts would send better ie conservative Senators to DC? I live in NC, I suspect that we would have two Dem Senators instead of one of each. While no amendments or SCOTUS rulings from the last 100 years should be exempt from scrutiny attempting to go back to what was will not always produce the desired results.

  • smitty

    @Adobe Walls,
    The argument I made in this post is that we need a negative feedback loop. Congress runs open loop at the moment. Removing the causes of that open loop seems a great start.
    Do you agree with the problem statement, and can you offer an alternative course of action?

  • smitty

    @Adobe Walls,
    The argument I made in this post is that we need a negative feedback loop. Congress runs open loop at the moment. Removing the causes of that open loop seems a great start.
    Do you agree with the problem statement, and can you offer an alternative course of action?

  • Jack Okie

    Adobe Walls:

    Would the Massachusetts and North Carolina legislatures rather keep the available tax money in their respective states, or send it to Washington then pluck at the federal government’s sleeve to try to get some of it back?

    Look at a typical pay stub. Why is the federal withholding so much greater than the state’s? No float in the tank. Would the Massachusetts and North Carolina legislatures be happy to retain the current federal share, and give the feds the current state share? I can’t think of a single legislature, even California’s, that wouldn’t be overjoyed. That’s what repeal of the 17th Amendment means: Senators who take their marching orders from their STATE legislatures are not going to go along with federal budgets that cramp their state.

  • Jack Okie

    Adobe Walls:

    Would the Massachusetts and North Carolina legislatures rather keep the available tax money in their respective states, or send it to Washington then pluck at the federal government’s sleeve to try to get some of it back?

    Look at a typical pay stub. Why is the federal withholding so much greater than the state’s? No float in the tank. Would the Massachusetts and North Carolina legislatures be happy to retain the current federal share, and give the feds the current state share? I can’t think of a single legislature, even California’s, that wouldn’t be overjoyed. That’s what repeal of the 17th Amendment means: Senators who take their marching orders from their STATE legislatures are not going to go along with federal budgets that cramp their state.

  • Jack Okie

    Adobe Walls:

    What kind of nominee to the Supreme Court would be acceptable to senators who represent their states? One who kowtows to stare decisis, or one who is willing to correct past wrong decisions? One who ignores the 10th Amendment, or one who respects it? One who sees the Commerce clause and the 14th Amendment as cornucopias of federal power, or one who takes a narrow view?

    You’re right that “attempting to go back to what was” will not always produce the desired result, but the Founders were pretty sharp guys; I’m ready to give their original design a good try before we move on to something different. Besides, in this day of the internet, twitter, facebook etc a distribution of power where the most power was the closest to hand shouldn’t be impossible to achieve.

  • Jack Okie

    Adobe Walls:

    What kind of nominee to the Supreme Court would be acceptable to senators who represent their states? One who kowtows to stare decisis, or one who is willing to correct past wrong decisions? One who ignores the 10th Amendment, or one who respects it? One who sees the Commerce clause and the 14th Amendment as cornucopias of federal power, or one who takes a narrow view?

    You’re right that “attempting to go back to what was” will not always produce the desired result, but the Founders were pretty sharp guys; I’m ready to give their original design a good try before we move on to something different. Besides, in this day of the internet, twitter, facebook etc a distribution of power where the most power was the closest to hand shouldn’t be impossible to achieve.

  • Jack Okie

    Adobe Walls:

    My expectation is that repeal of the 17th Amendment will drastically reduce the ability of the federal government to dick with me and mine. I have a pretty good idea of how my state legislature would handle the increased power (money IS power); I think they’ll do OK. If Massachusetts wants to put another liberal democrat (or two) in the senate, so what? It’s the Massachusetts state legislature that has the power now – over the citizens of Massachusetts. If the good citizens of MA want to go nuts, it’s no skin off my Oklahoma nose – their profligacy can no longer reach me.

    I know I’m simplifying a bit, but the basic point is sound.

  • Jack Okie

    Adobe Walls:

    My expectation is that repeal of the 17th Amendment will drastically reduce the ability of the federal government to dick with me and mine. I have a pretty good idea of how my state legislature would handle the increased power (money IS power); I think they’ll do OK. If Massachusetts wants to put another liberal democrat (or two) in the senate, so what? It’s the Massachusetts state legislature that has the power now – over the citizens of Massachusetts. If the good citizens of MA want to go nuts, it’s no skin off my Oklahoma nose – their profligacy can no longer reach me.

    I know I’m simplifying a bit, but the basic point is sound.

  • Jack Okie

    Smitty:

    I’ve been searching for months for good metaphor for the 17th Amendment. Yours is absolutely brilliant.

    And opens up great possibilities of wordplay: “Take the plunge”, “Flush out the statists” ….

  • Jack Okie

    Smitty:

    I’ve been searching for months for good metaphor for the 17th Amendment. Yours is absolutely brilliant.

    And opens up great possibilities of wordplay: “Take the plunge”, “Flush out the statists” ….

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @Jack Okie,
    I’ve been pondering for months to come up with simple examples of negative feedback loops.
    They’re all over the place, but one that is commonplace enough not to glaze the casual reader’s eye takes some thought.
    Glad you liked it,
    Chris

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @Jack Okie,
    I’ve been pondering for months to come up with simple examples of negative feedback loops.
    They’re all over the place, but one that is commonplace enough not to glaze the casual reader’s eye takes some thought.
    Glad you liked it,
    Chris

  • Adobe Walls

    Part of my in-artfully expressed point is that many years and much damage has been done since the 17th amendment passed. Repealing it will not restore anything the States have lost in the meantime. I’m not saying we shouldn’t repeal the 17th amendment but there are laws and federal agencies that can be dealt with much sooner and with surer results. In principal I’ve no problem with repealing amendments eleven and up. Before anyone bothers to ask, no I’ve not thoroughly researched that Idea.

  • Adobe Walls

    Part of my in-artfully expressed point is that many years and much damage has been done since the 17th amendment passed. Repealing it will not restore anything the States have lost in the meantime. I’m not saying we shouldn’t repeal the 17th amendment but there are laws and federal agencies that can be dealt with much sooner and with surer results. In principal I’ve no problem with repealing amendments eleven and up. Before anyone bothers to ask, no I’ve not thoroughly researched that Idea.

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @Adobe Walls,
    No, the past is invariant, but the purpose of the post is to get people to look for whether there is a negative feedback loop in a system.
    1913 is to be remembered as one of the worst years in US history.
    If they messed up and left me in charge, I’d make 2013 a centennial repeal jubilee.

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @Adobe Walls,
    No, the past is invariant, but the purpose of the post is to get people to look for whether there is a negative feedback loop in a system.
    1913 is to be remembered as one of the worst years in US history.
    If they messed up and left me in charge, I’d make 2013 a centennial repeal jubilee.

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