As Congress rushes to pass legislation in a mad dash called change, our ability to achieve self-determination is being eroded. We are supposed to have a deliberate governmental process with checks and balances that may not work fast, but work diligently, to maintain constitutional limits.

Today, we see bills thousands of pages long being rushed through without anyone knowing what is being voted on. Nevertheless, many legislatures expressed dismay that the stimulus bill allowed huge bonuses for AIG millionaires. As President Obama appoints more czars who circumvent senatorial confirmation but wield as yet unknown influence or power, the power of the executive branch is usurping the legislative function, substituting executive mandate or government agency controls for legislated law.

Example: we are threatened that if Congress does not legislate cap and trade law that we the masses will be force-fed even worse restrictions and controls by the EPA. Carbon dioxide can be regulated as a harmful pollutant, thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling. The EPA could impose oppressive rules that would cripple our already sick economy.

The thesis that I submit is that the legislative bodies are rapidly making themselves irrelevant, as they refuse to represent the interests of their constituents. Instead, our representatives are promoting the interests of government parties and special interests. Being a super majority allows manipulation of congressional votes to protect those in competitive districts. We might as well vote for a party, not a representative.

Only when we hire people willing to fight unprecedented government takeover of our economy, will we see relief from systemic unemployment rates that are ruining our local economy.

Wayne Rapp

Myrtle Point