In an attempt to accommodate Americans’ ever-dwindling attention spans, Major League Baseball (MLB) is now implementing a bunch of anti-baseball rules. So as to try to speed up things – for a populous perpetually trying to hit the Skip button after five consecutive seconds of anything.
Which reminds of another anti-baseball rule that MLB implemented nearly half a century ago – albeit in only half of baseball. The American League in 1973 first substituted a hitter for a pitcher – born was the Designated Hitter (DH).
Except Rule 1.01 of the Official Baseball Rules still reads:
“Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each….”
The DH – is a tenth player. In clear violation of the rules.
For our federal government, the rules – is the Constitution. The Constitution stipulates the federal government is a game of three players – and only three players: The Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches – Articles I, II and III. That’s it – that’s the list.
Except over many decades of accrued sclerosis, DC has affixed an ever-growing gaggle of unconstitutional barnacles upon the Ship of State: The “independent agencies.”
Except per the Constitution – there is no such thing as an “independent agency.” Every federal entity has to exist within one of the three aforementioned branches.
This is DC – illegally outsourcing responsibility and accountability:
“In the United States government, independent agencies are agencies that exist outside the federal executive departments (those headed by a Cabinet secretary) and the Executive Office of the President.
“In a narrower sense, the term refers only to those independent agencies that, while considered part of the executive branch, have regulatory or rulemaking authority and are insulated from presidential control, usually because the president’s power to dismiss the agency head or a member is limited.
“Established through separate statutes passed by the Congress, each respective statutory grant of authority defines the goals the agency must work towards, as well as what substantive areas, if any, over which it may have the power of rulemaking. These agency rules (or regulations), when in force, have the power of federal law….
“The Paperwork Reduction Act lists 19 enumerated ‘independent regulatory agencies….’
“Generally, the heads of independent regulatory agencies can only be removed for cause….”
These bureaucratic monstrosities have absolutely nothing to do with a Constitutional, representative form of government.
To wit: The Federal Reserve is an alleged “independent agency”:
“The Fed can best be described as independent within the government.…”
This can best be described as unconstitutional.
So we can have what just happened to our economy – happen to our economy. And the people we elect to prevent it from happening – can point to the unaccountable, un-elected Fed and say “It’s not our fault – it’s theirs.”
DC printed trillions of dollars. Then – shocker – inflation inexorably entrenched itself. Then it skyrocketed.
Except DC had long ago outsourced responsibility for controlling inflation – to The Fed. These alleged “Experts” – missed entirely the boat.
Now – in an attempt to play catch up? The Fed is now attempting to destroy our economy with serial interest rate hikes – so as to beat inflation into submission.
And our elected officials – can claim to be off the hook. “It’s not our fault The Fed missed the depth, breadth and heights of the inflation – which we our own selves created by printing trillions of dollars. The Fed is supposed to save us from ourselves – blame them.”
We can blame The Fed all we like. We just can’t un-elect them. Which is why our elected officials outsourced so much power to them.
DC is rife with “independent agencies” – wielding WAY too much power:
“The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) is an independent bureau within the Federal Reserve System….”
Get that? That’s an illegal “independent agency” – within another illegal “independent agency.” Exponential unconstitutionality.
But wait – there’s more:
“The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government….”
The SSA was as of 2019 carrying a $43 trillion shortfall. Which has only exploded skyward since. So it being an “independent agency” is an outstanding idea.
But wait – there’s more:
“The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency….”
In 2017, the USPS had already lost money for 11 straight years. Then this year….
USPS Is Losing a Lot More Money in 2023 Than It Expected
So it being an “independent agency” is an outstanding idea.
But wait – there’s more:
“The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent federal agency….”
But wait – there’s more:
“The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency….”
But wait – there’s more:
“The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government….”
But wait – there’s more:
“The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is an independent agency of the US government….”
And on, and on, and….
These “independent agencies” are INCREDIBLY powerful – and INCREDIBLY unaccountable.
“The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States.
“The FCC maintains jurisdiction over the areas of broadband access, fair competition, radio frequency use, media responsibility, public safety, and homeland security.”
The FCC has unilaterally, illegally, repeatedly attempted to turn “jurisdiction over…broadband” – into dominant control of 1/6th of the entire US economy. Via the idiocy that is Net Neutrality.
Net Neutrality Is ‘Climate Change’ for the Internet
Congress has never passed a law telling the FCC to impose Net Neutrality. That has not stopped the “independent agency” FCC.
Strike One:
Barack Obama Hails FCC on Net Neutrality Vote
D.C. Circuit Overturns Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Net Neutrality Order
Strike Two:
F.C.C. Approves Net Neutrality Rules, Classifying Broadband Internet Service as a Utility
The Trump FCC Just Voted to Repeal the U.S. Government’s Net Neutrality Rules
Appeals Court Ruling Upholds FCC’s Canceling of Net Neutrality Rules
Gluttons for power grab punishment….
Biden’s Call to Restore Net Neutrality:
“President Joe Biden wants net neutrality regulations back on the books. In an executive order released Friday, he urged the Federal Communications Commission to restore Obama-era net neutrality rules….”
The Internet has existed completely free from Net Neutrality regulations – for nigh the entirety of its existence.
How’s the Internet doing? It has completely revolutionized human existence and the US economy. That’s all.
If it ain’t broken? Government will insist on breaking it – in the name of “fixing it.”
Just how unilateral and unconstitutional is the FCC?
The CFPB has ways to self-fund – thereby illegally bypassing Congress’s Constitutional power of the purse.
Fifth Circuit Rules CFPB’s Self-Funding Mechanism Is Unconstitutional
Guess what? The FCC self-funds too.
Think Three Unelected Bureaucrats Should Raise Taxes Whenever They Want?
Too late – they can:
“(A)ny three unelected FCC bureaucrats can raise taxes on the Internet whenever they want.”
And they do….
FCC Approves New Internet Phone Taxes
Because of course.
This tax monstrosity – is the Universal Service Fund (USF). Which FCC bureaucrats can vote to raise whenever they want. But they don’t even have to do that:
“(T)he Universal Service Fund (USF) tax…goes up automatically every calendar quarter.”
Because of course.
The USF is allegedly to “connect the unconnected” to the Internet. Is this “independent agency” spending this $8 billion-per-year tax coin at all wisely or well? Or the hundreds of billions of additional dollars Congress has shoveled into the fund? Of course not.
Government Money: They Aren’t Ready, They Haven’t Aimed – But They Fire Anyway:
“(I)t’s almost 2023 – and we STILL do not have accurate, detailed maps of who is actually unconnected.
“Has that stopped The Feds from spending decades spending MORE THAN A TRILLION DOLLARS – allegedly to connect the unconnected? Heavens no.”
Sen. Cruz: It’s Past Due for Congress To Get USF Spending Under Control
Ya think?
It’s also WAY past due for Congress to get all of these unaccountable, unconstitutional “independent agencies” under control. Actually – out of existence.
They won’t. But it is WAY past due.