The problem is, "just doing something" leads to passing terrible laws in haste.
Agreed, completely. Don't think that's the case? Ask any of the surviving Asians (or their children) who we (the Fed Govt) put into interment camps after Pearl Harbor....
For just ONE example...
Our system is based on the idea that the legislative process is supposed to be plodding and deliberative. It's not meant to ramrod laws through on impulse.
Absolutely true. This was not only intentional, it was the only way possible at the time. People, including news and information could only travel as fast as a horse could run or a ship could sail.
This provided a built in "lag time" between anything people got upset about and our legislators being able to consider the issue, allowing for a (usually) rational discussion.
Our instant information technology today, and the emphasis on "democracy" over our constitutional REPUBLIC has brought us closer to mob rule than any time previous in our history.
Our current situation favors those who shout the loudest and longest, and NOT necessarily what is the
right thing to do.
Today, semi auto firearms and the people who own them are made out to be today's "witches" (aka "evil") and the mob is screaming "Burn the Witch! Burn the Witch!" over and over. Some would burn the witch today, just to appease the mob.
The right thing to do, as I see it, is to wait until the mob gets tired of yelling and brandishing their torches and pitchforks and goes home, THEN decide if the witch actually NEEDS to be burned, or if something else should be done.
Being as I see myself, and others like me as "good witches" and not evil ones, I rather object to being burned, just to temporarily placate an angry mob.
Don't you??
