Thursday, November 8, 2007

Naming Legislation

I finally got around to reading some of the cases interpreting the Patriot Act. Some of the Act's provisions are shocking to me, in terms of curtailing what I assumed were traditional rights held by the people. So, I wondered why Congresspeople would vote for this.

After some consideration, the most obvious solution came to me. It's because it is named "The Patriot Act." How could you possibly run for re-election and adequately answer your opponents' criticism that You Voted AGAINST Patriotism. This also explains "No Child Left Behind" (can't vote to leave children behind), all statutes that have "Balanced Budget" in them anywhere (everyone is for a balanced budget). Just this week, Texans were presented with a Constitutional Amendment seeking authorization to research a cure for cancer. Even citizens can't resist. For heaven's sake, who votes FOR cancer and AGAINST a cure?

Legislators have only scratched the surface of this sure-fire technique to passing legislation.

1 comment:

OsoDelSol said...

You also have to wonder how much of things like the Patriot Act they've really read and how much of it the Cliff-Noted.