Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing
I don't know what to say, really. I'm practically overwhelmed in trying to figure out a way to say this so people can understand how government actually works, and how it's not some lazy plot by legislators to avoid work, but rather, an almost natural consequence.
There simply is not enough time to be caught up in all details, all the time. We have members of the legislative government who become experts in particular issues and like anyone who has a best friend that is an expert in something, you move to them for some guidance. This is not the only way, of course, there's meetings with constituents, interest groups, the legislator's own staff, and consulting polling data. Staff are not exactly flakey individuals, but often come in with a strong sense of mission and attempt to serve their boss in the way they believe he should and or actually does.
You vote for the legislator, but you would be foolish to think the man by himself would be able to carry the weight expected to be dealt with from the office. The legislator needs to delegate authority in order to accomplish goals, but quite often, there simply is not enough time to keep caught up. Legislators often make repeated attempts to read the bills, but complain they have not enough time to do so or to further consider the weight upon them. It's not a pretty thought, but that is what happens, and why political scientists consistently emphasize the problem of limited resources with limited time, and immense pressure when it comes to decision-making.
Indeed, you may think it more important that your legislator spend time honing his reading skills, and become a masterful writer himself, but the realities of the office also stress from one varied degree to another, being immensely aware of re-election. They are constraints-oriented, and thus, constraints dominate the thought process rather than pure domination. So, indeed he has to meet with constituents, interests groups, and individual lobbyists.
And a note about pork. It has a bad reputation, but pork is essentially everything that we enjoy as a citizenry. We make calls to our local districts about it all the time, and communities think it is money well spent for the most part. "Porking" is generally a rare entity where indeed pork money, as it is called, is not wisely spent. Nevertheless, one never lost a vote by declaring pork wrong and evil, although all politicians do it, and a large majority of the public demand it at one time or another.
These things are complicated, and I'd appreciate it if I wouldn't be insinuated for being a "jizzbag" because I gave a bit more thought to my replies.