Dear Publius:

Got a hypothetical question for you. Would love your insight into this. Just say, hypothetically, that Congreff is trying to enact legislation that would benefitte pretty much everyone except for the big insurance companies (although they’ll benefitte too, actually, but let that go for now) and it’s totally hard to do because the people — who, as you have mentioned and I totally totally agree with you, are super good at loads of stuff — but the people don’t like this legislation so much, and are energized against it with lots of publick demonstrations and unruly mobs &c.

So, here’s the question: Why can’t Congreff just paff that legislation by, in a sense, not paffing it? By way of reconciliation or even paffing amendments to it and “deeming” it paffed? Can we do that?

Again: hypothetical only. But would love your insight.

A Member of the (Thinkinge) Publicke

P.S.: Please do something about your font!

To the People of the State of New York:

Although we have always eschewed to principles of the hypothetical, I would have to add that such an acktion on behalf of any Congreff would be at least distreffing and at most a breach of the most elemental form of governance. Also, he who orchestrated such an acktion would be a royale aff.

PUBLIUS

Dear Publius:

Right. I get it. Forget I mentioned it. Still, a question:

What do you do when the American citizen is so clearly wrong about what’s good for himme? Isn’t there some way in your vaunted “constitution” to sort of get something done super quick when nobody is really looking and maybe they’re all too busy with tax-time tsuris and what not? My point here is, you guys have constructed a whole big thing here that really requires consent of the governed, which sounds awesome but, you know, I mean, really? Really?

My thinking here is, you guys need to get out more and meet some real Americkans, who, let’s be honest, aren’t the brightest people around. Fat, too. Which is another thing you guys don’t talk about.

Also: Is this Madison or Hamilton? And please don’t be all “It’s Publius, it’s Publius” because we all know it’s one of you guys.

A Member of the (Thinkinge) Publicke

To the People of the State of New York:

In the fyrst place, we’re not saying who is who. It’s Publius. That’s who it is writing these things. Google us if you wysh, but we’ve been awfully goode about covering those tracks. You can find us on Facebooke and Twytter and that’s about the size of that.

In the seconde place, it has never been our contention that the citizenry are uniformly knowledgeable about elements of governance and taxation. Which is why we have advocated here and elsewhere a republic — delegating to such citizens as their neighbors choose the rights and responsibilities to legislate and decide on matters as they see fytte. And to appear before those citizens on a timely fashion for reapproval and elecktion. I don’t see what’s so hard about that. Seems pretty basick, really. Would rather debate the thornier stuff, to be frank, about inter-state stuff and taxes and what have ye.

PUBLIUS

Dear Publius:

Ryght, ryght. I get it. The people get to eleckt representatives who are beholden to their interests, no, I get that.

But here’s what I’m saying: Suppose for instance that a lot of guys in Congreff are facing the citizens in, like, six months, and that’s too soone to both paff a HUGE piece of legislation and also convince the greyt unwashed that it’s a good thing to do — I mean, it’s going to be a bloodbath when the voters check into this — but still, it’s a greyt piece of legislation — a little expensive, but, hey, so was the War of Independence, ryght?? — and so what they need is politickal cover. In that scenario it’d be okay, right?

A Member of the (Thinkinge) Publicke

To the People of the State of New York:

Your hypothetickals have grown tiresome. Speak plainly, sir. Owne up to your designs and stratagems. What is the acktual coste of this “legislative programme” of which you write? And bear in mynde that I’m really quite busy.

PUBLIUS

Dear Publius:

Okay: brasse tackes. The whole shebang is going to run about a trillion dollars. For now. More later, obviously, but one tryll gets us started.

A Member of the (Thinkinge) Publicke

To the People of the State of New York:

Truly wonderfulle! You really had me going! I was into the exchange hooke, lyne, and sinkerre! One trillion of dollars! Marvelous!

Thank you, sir, for providing a wonderful jape for my amusement. I shall paff this along to my colleagues!

The government of the United States! Spending a trillion dollars! Without a vote in Congreff!

PUBLIUS