Should Congress Be Expanded?

[Berzerker]

535, 435 in the House and 100 in the senate

[Ben Kenobi]

NYE:

We have over 300 MPs, and 30 million people. By that reasoning, the US ought to have close to 3K congressmen.

If we have the US numbers, it would be 62 MPs.

So we have much better representation.

[notyoueither]

Too many numbers flying around. The issue would still be staffing though, wouldn't it? You could have 3 people or 3000 who were unprepared, or unqualified to make fast decisions. 3000 would just make more noise doing it.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
NYE:

We have over 300 MPs, and 30 million peole. By that reasoning, the US ought to have close to 3K congressmen.

If we have the US numbers, it would be 62 MPs.

So we have much better represetation.

Oh good, a good jack!

Sorry, but quantity does not mean quality. Or do you think it is unimportnat that our PM thinks that talking to back benchers is beneath him?

There is one power in Canada federally. That power is the PMO. That power is somewhat defused through cabinet positions, and through party hacks. However, the tide of power stops well before lapping up on the shores of the back benches.

[David Floyd]

Well, the privitization aspect of the Medicare bill is however, the prescription drug aspect of it is

[cinch]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Sorry, but quantity does not mean quality. Or do you think it is unimportnat that our PM thinks that talking to back benchers is beneath him?

Which PM? Martin or Chretien?

There is one power in Canada federally. That power is the PMO. That power is somewhat defused through cabinet positions, and through party hacks. However, the tide of power stops well before lapping up on the shores of the back benches.

Very true, sir.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by cinch


Which PM? Martin or Chretien?

Well, apparently the Mangler doesn't speak to Martin, so...

[Timexwatch]

Re: Should Congress Be Expanded?

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Adam Smith made a point in another thread about rules and regs made by Congress, which got me to thinking. Then the 690 page Kill-Medicare bill was just passed, which was only given to legislators last week, hardly enough time to read the bill.

I was thinking, 635 really isn'ta all that many to be able to specialize in the various bills the Congress needs to deal with.

So, should we increase the size of Congress so we can have more committees with less subjects?

Che,

You really don't know what you're talking about. The bill, H.R.1, was introduced into the House Ways and Means Committee on the 25th of June and has been acted on in various ways in the Senate since the 7th of July. This bill is by no means a surprise.

For your reference

Bills like this don't just appear out of thin air.

Committee and Congressional staffers, along with lobbyists, lawyers and CRS people have been all over this bill. It is by no means short, but it's not like people have read it and distilled the important points for each Representative and Senator to read.

All the important bills have people to look at them. Not everything needs to be reviewed page by page by every Congressman. Everyone on the Hill makes sure that all pertinent comes to Congress' attention because there are many people with a finger in this pie.

[Ben Kenobi]

There is one power in Canada federally. That power is the PMO.

I am humbled by your wisdom. Of course I am wrong to suggest that an increase in MPs will increase the representation for a region when we have the all seeing PM of Martin. I blame the evil influences of those who call themselves 'Conservatives.' How could we ever trust the disciples of a man called 'Preston'?

[notyoueither]

What part of your post was not a joke?

[Ben Kenobi]

NYE:

Need to fix your sarcasm detector.

[notyoueither]

Got the sarcasm. Just wondering what it addresses when the real problem is party discipline, not the number of MPs.

If you want to indicate that Refooooorm would fix it, I'd have to direct you to the fact that the chances of Ontario or Quebec ever voting for such Prairie populism are measured as somewhat lower than that of an asteroid striking Parliament Hill on Dec 25.

I'm afraid we'll have to find our solutions elsewhere.

[Ben Kenobi]

I'd have to direct you to the fact that the chances of Ontario or Quebec ever voting for such Prairie populism

Considering that more BC folks than Prairie people voted for the Alliance tells me that the party attracts folks from all over.

Many people in Ontario also voted for the Alliance. The problem just has to do with the vote-splitting that a merger will solve.

That's why I called them Conservatives, and not Alliance, since that is going to be the new name. No more progressives. Orchard can start his own party.

[cinch]

Originally posted by notyoueither
I'm afraid we'll have to find our solutions elsewhere.

... like in the Conservative Party of Canada?

...




Hey, crazier things have happened.

[cinch]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi Orchard can start his own party.

What of ol' Joe Who? Hath he no disciples left?