I agree. It’s already a stretch to call our system a representative democracy, but it’s so much more egregious when you consider the unilateral power congressional leadership wields.
This is true in a sense, but also a bit misleading. The Speaker is essentially acting in the name of a House majority, and they can be removed by that majority at any time; it just provides them a degree of separation from accountability. If the Speaker is doing something that a majority of the House doesn’t want, they can always remove him or use tools like discharge petitions.
That said, there are very complicated power dynamics at play there, and you’re right that leadership does have too much power. But it does need to be reminded that this is only done with the consent of the majority.
Problem is that the Speaker has a ton of power to set the legislative agenda in the House.
The other problem is that he’s a fucking wanker; meaning he’s producing a new generation of fucking wankers.
I thought he installed spyware on his and his son’s computers so that they WOULDN’T be wankers
Or so he could have an audience for his wanking.
that just means they’re… horny wankers.
I agree. It’s already a stretch to call our system a representative democracy, but it’s so much more egregious when you consider the unilateral power congressional leadership wields.
This is true in a sense, but also a bit misleading. The Speaker is essentially acting in the name of a House majority, and they can be removed by that majority at any time; it just provides them a degree of separation from accountability. If the Speaker is doing something that a majority of the House doesn’t want, they can always remove him or use tools like discharge petitions.
That said, there are very complicated power dynamics at play there, and you’re right that leadership does have too much power. But it does need to be reminded that this is only done with the consent of the majority.