"It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is today, can guess what it will be to-morrow." (James Madison)
I'd love to hear Madison's impression of "you'll have to pass it to find out what's in it" but I doubt it would be printable.
I’m sure it wouldn’t be printable. I’d also like to hear his impression of a Speaker that would utter such tripe, it’d most likely be x rated.
Also of Robert’s saying, when attempting to defend his decision re Obamacare, something along the lines that the people got what they voted for. I don’t remember the exact quote, but I remember how pizzed I was at his using that as an excuse for not doing his own job. He’s supposed to be part of the checks and balances, as our founders knew that the men who get elected to office are not invariably incorruptible and perfect, nor do they necessarily heed the wishes of the people.
It is amazing that those people in the 1700's could so accurately foresee our future problems.
Sometimes I think that all of our technology has handicapped our ability to think. Blinded us to reality.
"Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed? We want them broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against . . . We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted [Frederick Mann: Obfuscation of meaning is a key element of the con games bureaucrats and politicians play.] - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."
That is from Federalist #62, which dealt with the Senate. He explained how a Senate of the States was essential to republican freedoms, how it prevented us from becoming consolidated under one government.