11.10.2010 original publish date
11.18.2010 repaired broken links
08.28.2012 repaired broken link
Your Say In Government? Walrus Top of the Food Chain
original article written by Net Advisor™
The Obama Administration has set up a cute website called Regulations.gov. What is especially interesting is that the website suggests that the People have a vote in government policy. This is actually and Constitutionally not true. The People (legal and registered U.S. citizens) have the right to vote for their representative, who in turn write the (proposed) laws (called Bills) (with help from the local lobbyists and special interest groups), and then the President signs the bill into law, or effectually vetoes the law. It’s a little deeper than that, but you get the idea.
However anyone can redress the government (1st Amendment) and that is what the site is really about, sort of. The idea or thinking that if the majority of the public is against something (Obama Care or other issues), then We, the People could just say so, and the law would not happen right? We’ll, it doesn’t quite work this way. Yet, we are made to think as if we have some say in government on Regulations.gov.
Our best “say” in government is our vote, which was exercised in mass recently (video), except for an unfortunate part of the population in California (playfully dubbed the Land of Fruits and Nuts) who kept the status quo, and pushed it one step further by bringing back Jerry Brown. We’ll see how that goes.
Now that we just called the government website misleading for their representing that we have an active say in government policy, lets take a look at what are the key government priorities (“actions based on comments”) as of 11-10-2010 PDF.
Do the current government priorities predominately cover economic issues?
No….
…. Cutting government spending?
….Naaaa….
….Jobs?….
….Almost sounds like it, but not really….
….Building roads and bridges?….
…Nope….
….. Environmental and animal issues?….
Yes!
Sure, most of us love animals, and many people love to eat them too, but as far as priorities in government according to this government regulation website, the top actions are currently:
- The Pacific Walrus.
- Program Integrity, Gainful Employment (Sorry, Wally Walrus was more important than jobs; and this is not really a job program. Dept of Education (HTML).
- Food Conservation and Energy. (We’ll if one doesn’t have a job, one doesn’t need to eat much or use a car anyway right?)
- Glyphosate-Tolerant Alfalfa Events. (2009 fact Sheet).
- Greenhouse Gas.
— Source: Regulations.gov (11-22-2010, PDF)
And if one is able, but just does not want to think or care for them self, rest assured regulations.gov stated that on average there are 8,000 new regulations implemented every year – that’s 22 new regulations per day if included weekends, and holidays. So the number is actually higher than 22 because government doesn’t work weekends, holidays, and has paid vacations, health care and retirement benefits. Telling us what to do, and how to live our lives takes a lot out of them.
“On average, federal agencies and departments issue nearly 8,000 regulations per year.”
— Source: Regulations.gov (11-22-2010, PDF)
So as we hear about “jobs” and all the goodies government has to offer us on TV, in the press, and especially during the elections, keep in mind that well fed animals, the environment and alfalfa sprouts all seem to have first priority.
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