What is a majority? Sounds like a simple question with a simple answer: A majority is the number of people who prevail in a decision in a democratic society.
In deciding exactly what a majority opinion might be, we must hold a vote, which is the democratic way of allowing the majority to rule.
In terms of the constitutional method to conduct our fiscal affairs, our federal government has failed in many recent cases to allow a majority to rule. It has done so by not allowing a vote on contentious issues.
When was the last time we held a vote on a national budget? Bottom line is that we have not done so. Instead we have only votes on continuing resolutions, and then Congress continues to spend more money.
Welcome to politics. We have a divided government as the result of one party controlling the House and the other the Senate.
The impasse was finally broken Jan. 1. Both the House and the Senate actually voted on legislation that avoided the “fiscal cliff.” No question at all that the majority prevailed in that vote.
Why can’t our Congress operate that way all the time? Let one side pass a bill and the other debate and vote on the issue.
Unless that happens, how will a compromise ever be reached?
What is wrong with expressing one’s views by voting instead of just yacking?
Opinion
Our View: Let’s take a vote
- Opinion
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Our View: Safer schools
Being able to see for ourselves what would have happened to our children had they been standing in the main hall of their schools during the May 22, 2011, tornado had a profound effect on our understanding of safe schools.
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Marilyn Beasley, guest columnist: Claiming responsibility for abuse of power
Over the past few months we’ve witnessed the abuse of power by President Barack Obama and his administration.
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Our View: ‘Why?’ has no answer
Just hours before, there was breakfast and laughter. There were pictures on the walls and memories in every room.
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Our View: Absent from House
We can’t figure out why two Missouri legislators think they should be elected to the U.S. House when it appears they can’t seem to show up to take care of business in the Missouri House.
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Your View: Terrorism is terrorism
In the May 13 issue of The Joplin Globe there was an Associated Press article concerning the New Orleans shooting.
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Your View: Terrible injustice
I see this Jasper County nuisance law as a terrible injustice on the rights of the residents of Jasper County.
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Your View: Should we be outraged?
Were there effusive apologies following the lockdown of Boston as most of the continent indulged vicariously in the ongoing manhunt?
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Phill Brooks, columnist: Missouri Senate did what Founding Fathers had in mind
George Washington once described the Senate as being like a saucer in which you pour coffee or tea.
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Other Views: Conflicts in SEC
Money talks. In the continuing dispute over the all-too-cozy relationship between the people who create and sell financial products and the people who rate their risk, the money says: Shut up and let us do what we want.
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Our View: Fixing failure
Some 1,200 injured workers will finally get the payments they are owed. In its final week in session, Missouri’s General Assembly, through bipartisan efforts, passed a solution to address the insolvency of the state’s Second Injury Fund.
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