Decentralizing

The Great debate of our Republic’s history has been one of centralized or decentralized control of government. We were declared to be a government of the People, by the People and for the People, but, of course, everyone wants to gain and keep power. To simplify the debate, do we invest more power in the People at large, or a small group near the Capital.

In recent years the concentration of power near Washington has been undeniable. Many citizens have been appalled to hear their representative say they know their constituents are against a particular bill, but they are going to vote for it anyway. And we have all seen Congressmen come home for a session break to attend townhall meetings and be aghast at how differently the people of their district see the things that are going on in Washington.

Groupthink has taken over and We the People are being pushed farther and farther to the sidelines. The following is a proposal for a three pronged strategy to move power back towards the citizens and away from the herd mentality that infest the Capital.

1) Use a version control software system for Legislation proposals.

When modern software is being written, it is done so by programmers in various locations (often around the globe) using a version control system. The entire large program is stored in this database and sections of it may be checked out by a programmer to work on it. When it is checked back in, the entire program is updated for everybody.

A similar system should be used for bills being proposed to the Congress. Each congressman could check out the section of the bill they wish to re-write and then check it back in when finished. There would be numbered versions of the bill culminating in the final, approved version. These software packages even allow for voting on different updates and putting competing proposals side-by-side for comparison. This would modernize the “meat-grinder” process of crafting legislation.

Other benefits include

• Easily post bills on the Internet for public viewing
• Bills can be hidden from non-authorized viewers until it has reached a certain stage of maturity
• Updates are dated and signed. Researchers would know when an update was made to a bill and who did it.

2) Move the various representatives out of Washing and back home.

Everyday there is a new commercial that shows people in different countries talking and collaborating as if they were in the same room. There is truly no reason for our elected officials to be sequestered together in Washington DC. Again and again we are told that the Public just “doesn’t understand how things are done in Washington.” The truth is we do know and we do not like it. That phrase is just a cover for those that want to wheel and deal and try to get the most of the tax dollars for their own benefit.

The general populace does not like the way Washington works and does not agree with most of what goes on there. The group collective in Washington protects the elected official, however. Around Washington everyone they meet is connected to the central government in some capacity. The media caters to them. Lobbyists flock to them like sharks to a kill. It is a self perpetuating cycle that leaves out one very important thing: We the People.

Having our elected officials set up their offices in their home district would put them back in reach of the very people that voted for them. It would keep them in the loop of local happenings and keep them closer to the tide of opinion in their districts. It would also be cheaper, but lets not get carried away.

3) Repeal amendment that allows popular election of Senators.

The phrase “follow the money” is no where more applicable than in politics. Since the introduction of popular election of Senators, money from out of state sources has flowed into close elections. Senators are beholden to the ones that got them into office and the perception is that was not the People of the State but the money men who delivered them.

In the past, it was common for local elections to receive more votes than national elections. Voters were only interested in the elections that they perceived to effect them. Now, the national elections will garner votes, while local elections are ignored. Making the outcome of the state elections have national consequences will but a larger emphasis local elections, thus moving political power to a more local level.

Beyond this, the Senators are supposed to represent their State, where Representatives stand for the people of a district. The centralization of power has taken our collective focus off of our states and onto the Federation. It was always intended by our Founders that the States be more important to our every day life than the Central government. Bringing Senators back to their original role will bring power back to the People.