I don’t usually blog about
political
or
moral
topics, but recently I’ve run across a few things that
are troubling me and which need a society wide discussion.
But I haven’t seen them anywhere else.

Kuro5hin
as an
article
about the U.S. House of Representatives bill
HR3820
The bill, titled the
“Congressional Accountability for Judicial Activism Act of 2004,”
would grant Congress the right to overturn the decisions
of the U.S. Supreme Court “to the extent that [they concern]
the constitutionality of an Act of Congress.”
A two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress
would be required to overturn such a decision;
this is the same condition applied to overturning
a Presidential veto of legislation.
The bill is currently in committee.

The constitution already stipulates that the congress and the
people can make anything constitutional by passing an amendment.
In the past, the law makers can make anything legal by passing
new laws.
But this changes the rules and makes congress (and it’s controlling
party in the current congressional dynamics) the supreme
power in the land without reqiring the people (us) to vote.

The
New Orleans Channel 6 News
reports
that the
5th Circuit Court of Appeals
as ruled that Louisiana cops don’t need a search or
arrest warrent to conduct a brief seach of your home or
business if the officer “fears for his safety”.

Now, most cops aren’t bad guys, but it’s a tough job out there
and people are shooting at you.
That doesn’t make for the best of situations for making
reasoned and balanced decisions.
And any claim of checks and balances go out the window unless
there is a video camera present.

Enough of my soap box.
The real problem I see is that both of these are serious
changes in the norm or the percieved norm of what we
consider the balance of power and justice.
Why aren’t these being brought up for public discussion?
How can we be an informed populous when things like this
can be proposed and acted on while most people don’t hear
about it.

I am bothered by this.
Earth to Media!!
There’s news happening!!