Reply #32: The checks and balances are asymmetrical and help one side at the expense of the other. [View All]

[BzaDem]

Sometimes they help us, but more often than not they help Republicans.

Why? Because in our system, to STOP government action, it usually only takes one house, 5 justices, or an errant regulator. But to CAUSE government action, it takes both Houses, the President, all the regulators, and at least 5 justices to uphold the law.

That system will inevitably be bad for the party that wants more government action (the Democrats), and be better for the party that wants less government action (the Republicans). This is true of any system that requires consent among far more veto points for action than to stop action. Whenever Republicans control one House, they can take government funding bills hostage (like they did), or the debt ceiling hostage (like they did), or the FAA bill hostage (like they did). Divided government has turned into nothing more than hostage taking government. It used to work better when both parties adhered to various norms, but it does not work when the norms are shelved by one party.