The Constellation Program was intended to modernize NASA and replace the aging Space Shuttle, but has been plagued by cost overruns and blown deadlines. President Obama and NASA have proposed canceling the unsustainable program—turning instead to the emerging private space industry to oversee launches.
In response, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) co-sponsored a measure protecting Constellation, which was attached to an emergency war funding bill. Such a measure ensures millions of taxpayer dollars will continue being funneled to politically connected NASA contractors.
Contractors like Alabama's own Radiance Technologies, which—wouldn't you know it—just happens to be one of Shelby's biggest campaign contributors.
Repealing the 17th Amendment would do more than allow state legislatures to exercise greater oversight over Senators than the people do, it would also allow the people to focus their attention on the House instead of trying to keep track of two federal legislatures. The political parties love making the political system as complex as possible so that it's difficult to follow. The more difficult it is to see what's going on, the less that people will try.
That's how they can get away with this stuff.
Hat tip: ReasonTV
1 comment:
it isn't about 'who will do the better job' supervising 'senators'. It's about 'the people' having representation twice, while the states have none. This hasn't been a republic since the 'senate' became the 'second perverted house of representatives'. (actually it stopped being a republic when membership became compulsory, but this isn't the 'repeal the civil war' blog)
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