I propose that there should be a fourth branch of government - a regulating agency known as the goals comity. Their purpose is to meet with, audit and report to congress the status of failing programs and bureaucracies.

Basically, I feel there are far far too many different government agencies on the national level that don't seem to report to any of the major branches of government. They should be given a check and balance, like every other branch, and their over all job is to act as an alert system for congress of failing legislation.

Some people may confuse this with the judicial review, but I feel this is significantly different, as this does not deal directly with civil and criminal laws, but with agencies and government corporations like the IRS and U.S. postal service.

And I dare take this further, they should also review laws that they feel are failing, and with a certain number of votes, it should be suspended and sent back to congress to be reratified - if they feel the need.

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It doesn't matter who we elect, it doesn't matter what they've done or who they've done, what is important is what they actually do. Too many politicians are politicians - they like to talk about useless issues and keep people in the dark about the real issue: money. I will always care more about what the government tells me I have to spend my money on, opposed to some unborn assassination. Freedom is the right to chose, on everything.

While the ideas are sound, the problem is this agency or branch of government would become yet again another institution that costs a lot of money and needs to be monitored.

Bottom line is government is getting much too large. It is becoming a giant monster that is out of control and there is not one part of the monster that can fix it because it is so convoluted and wide spreading that the only way to reform the government to serve the people would be total collapse.

Did you read about the people in Haiti who rioted because they couldn't afford food? The prime minister was ousted. We, THE PEOPLE, have the power, but we do not realize this until it comes to desperate measures. The government, in all its fear mongering and supposed power, cannot withstand the entirety of its population marching against them. I'm afraid it is going to take a lot of desperate, hungry, and self sacrificing people in America who have nothing to lose to force change upon the government.

The United States government better be afraid of the people because if the greed and over taxation and rise in everything prices continue, we will become hungry and angry, the two ingredients needed for revolution.

http://www.gao.gov/

not the 4th estate you were seeking, but the gao is the best managed organization in federal government that i have encountered. probably because they have a very bright staff

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1.20.09 - the end of an error

"The people who cast the votes don't decide an election, the people who count the votes do." Joseph Stalin

Life is a sexually transmitted disease having a 100% fatality rate

I don't like to believe such pessimistic views on reality. Our government is by far one of the best democracies ever, and I fear losing it to voter stupidity and demands that can't be met realistically.

This is no different from a business consultant. Their job will be to make sure everything is running smoothly, suggest changes, and over all they should be able to cut rocky parts of government while catching all the money scandals along the way.

I believe it needs to be there because it's obvious that no one else is going to take action.

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It doesn't matter who we elect, it doesn't matter what they've done or who they've done, what is important is what they actually do. Too many politicians are politicians - they like to talk about useless issues and keep people in the dark about the real issue: money. I will always care more about what the government tells me I have to spend my money on, opposed to some unborn assassination. Freedom is the right to chose, on everything.

Spoken like a true liberal.

MORE GOVERNMENT!
MORE GOVERNMENT!
MORE GOVERNMENT!
MORE GOVERNMENT!

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Political Affiliation: Zod

Basically it seems what you're asking for is a "branch" that doesn’t have any real power, other then maybe suspending laws in emergency temporarily. Which makes sense. Power corrupts, and I think if any such system will work, this branch needs to have no power and not answer to any power. They serve primarily as a watchdog. There is no need for a "check" on such a entity that has no "balance". I think it's a good general thought, but is obviously pretty fresh and needs some refinement on exactly how it should be implemented and what functions will be redundant with entities already in existence.

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True knowledge exists in knowing what you don't know.

And here is the chant of the conservative!

LESS GOVERNMENT! LESS GOVERNMENT! EXCEPT WHEN IT IS SOMETHING I LIKE! OR WHEN IT REGULATES SOMETHING I DISLIKE! ACTUALLY, I DON'T SEEM TO WANT LESS GOVERNMENT AT ALL! I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY I DO THOUGH! THIS IS A REALLY LONG CHANT! I THINK I SHOULD STOP NOW!

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"He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security"
Benjamin Franklin

R.I.P. Molly, I miss you every day!!


Beatitude # 9- "Blessed are those who spread freedom and democracy, for they shall invade the earth!"

So who is gonna regulate this 4th branch when they stop doing their job? I think a better approach would be to have senators and representatives make themselves available for public flogging - if they do a good job, no sore ass - if they do a bad job, they're gonna have to find a more comfortable chair. I guarantee that Congress' effectiveness would increase ten-fold.

I live in the UK and I am rather confused I thought republicans share the UK conservative's belief in less government, I am having problems squaring this circle with ref to two terms of Dubya, I also have a problem with the republican mantra of fiscal conservatism when Dubya seems to want to break the Fed with his drunken sailor spending! perhaps you could help me?

Um we already have that branch.

Its called the Bureaucracy.

Pick up any 1st year college government book. It will describe the 4 main "branches"
Leg, Exe, Jud, and Bureaucracy.

Then factor in that both the Executive and the Legislative already have what you are talking about, and you are in a serious case of redundency.

The GAO was mentioned. It is basically AWSOME.
You could also google "regulatory agency". There are long lists.
FCC, FEC, etc, etc.

In addition, you could easily find all the information you are looking for, in terms of failed gov programs.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...52C1A963958260

Here is a good one I reference frequently.


Ixtellor

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George W. Bush "I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building"

Blasphemy is a victimless crime.