Contacting your congressperson to ask them to cosponsor legislation you believe in does work. Oh I know, we're always told that members of Congress care about the views of the folks back home. But, being a libertarian, I am usually on the other side of every political decision that is made. I mean, I haven’t voted for a presidential winner or even the runner up in that contest since 1988. It is lonely in the political wilderness.
That is why this week was special. HR. 1207: Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 would “amend title 31, United States Code, to reform the manner in which the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is audited by the Comptroller General of the United States.” In other words, the legislation would force the Fed for the first time in its 95-year history to come clean and submit to an audit similar to the ones carried out against other private banks.
You see, in the last month I have sent two letters to my congressman Heath Shuler D-NC 11th District, asking him to cosponsor this legislation. Just this past Tuesday, I received a response from my representative that was somewhat ambivalent to say the least. The congressman indicated he was a little uneasy with the legislation because “…it is critical that the Board of Governors (of the Fed) not be politicized. This institution is meant to be a part of the government, but it must remain independent of short-term political pressures.” Feeling a bit down because I had once again been rejected politically, I decided that this week’s blog would blast the two- term congressman for his shortsightedness and for turning his back on taxpayers. However, much to my astonishment, on Friday I found out the congressman had committed to HR 1207, becoming its 222nd cosponsor! At last, a brief reprieve from the political wilderness.
In fact, things are looking up a little for we libertarians. It's about time – we are the political descendants of the Enlightenment thinkers and American Founding Fathers who helped usher in the modern world, with its respect for economic and personal freedoms. HR 1207 currently has 224 cosponsors and the numbers are surging (34 new ones since Tuesday)! That is more than a majority of House members. It is by far the most serious threat that the economic oligarchs at the unconstitutional Federal Reserve have ever encountered.
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Article comments
1 - Dan(Miller)
Kenn,
HR 1207 seems to be a good start. However, the audit is not to be completed until the end of next year -- eighteen months from now-- and an audit report is not due until ninety days after the audit is completed. Then, the report goes only to various identified members of Congress and to any other member who asks for a copy.
Why the substantial delay and why not have the report made available to anyone who asks for a copy?
Dan(Miller)
2 - Bliffle
I might take exception to this statement (but i don't have time right now):
"...we libertarians. It's about time â€" we are the political descendants of the Enlightenment thinkers and American Founding Fathers who helped usher in the modern world, with its respect for economic and personal freedoms."
I've heard this conceit many times before, and I even embraced it many years ago, but now I have my doubts. More later.