{ 2 bars + 3 stars }

Consider this syllogism. Should it become evident, if Pres. Obama’s health-care insurance reform initiative fails to become law despite Democratic control of both houses of Congress, that the federal government can enact legislation if and only if the president’s political party controls both houses and enjoys a supermajority of seats in the Senate, then, since these conditions are unlikely to occur regularly given our regional predilections, Congress cannot be relied upon to fulfill its primary constitutional role, i.e., legislate. A legislature that cannot legislate is virtually irrelevant. Yet our nation must have laws. Thus, the other political branch of our federal government will assume responsibility for making them. Or, as Prof. Balkin warns,

[e]ither the Senate’s rules are reformed soon, or [... Congress] will be increasingly unable to direct domestic policy. [...] And if Congress becomes irrelevant, the institution of the presidency is strengthened in the long run. [...] A strengthened Presidency moves us ever closer to rule by executive decision in American politics. [...] In other words, the current fight over the Senate, caused by bitter polarization in American politics, threatens the constitutional status of Congress as much as it does Barack Obama. [...] Difficult and dangerous times are ahead for the republic.

I suppose I’m all for it. Our legislative system, as it was designed (i.e., without regard to political parties, let alone perfectly nihilistic ones like our modern G.O.P.), has outlasted its usefulness. Sooner or later, we’re going to have to return to the drawing board. And I think the starting point must be term limits. Article I, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution ver. 2.0 should read: “No man or woman shall serve as a Member of Congress for more than ___ years.” If a legislator knows for absolute certain that, despite his or her hemming and hawing, posing and posturing, s/he will only enjoy the fruits of being a U.S. Representative and/or Senator for a set period, s/he might actually feel compelled to do the job s/he was elected to do, i.e., legislate (opposed to the job on which our esteemed Congresswomen and -men currently spend the vast majority of their time and efforts, i.e., permanently campaigning for re-election).