One of the commonly seen signs at protest parties was “Read the Bill.”
I agree. So does Obama. In fact that was one of his campaign pledges.
He stumbled out of the gate on this promise, but seems to have corrected the problem.
Keep in mind that Obama cannot command Congress to read the bill. What he can do, and did, is create a space to allow public commentary before he signs it.
Many of the protesters mention that this was their first protest, and some remarked that this is the first time they’ve become interested in politics. Good! Welcome to your civic responsibility. Congressional negligence in reading the bills that come before them has long been an issue of concern to progressives. Keep in mind that no one read the Patriot Act, either.
The one senator who spoke up and said “Waitaminnit, shouldn’t we read this first?” was Russ Feingold. Feingold was the only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act, which greatly expanded the power of the federal government and the executive office.
So, good job protesters! You’ve now come around to the sort of thinking shared by Feingold, Obama, and the majority of progressives.
Maybe eventually you’ll realize that liberalism is about freedom of thought, freedom of speech, limitations on the power of the government, the rule of law, an individual’s right to private property, and a transparent system of government.
