The U. S. House of Representatives is not living up to its potential. It's supposed to be a place where ideas are shared and laws are made. But right now, it's more like a place where a few people make decisions and the rest just go along.
This problem has been growing for a long time. It's not just about one group or one leader. It's about how things are done. A small group of lawmakers often work behind closed doors. They come up with big bills and then surprise everyone with them. Members of Congress are promised that their ideas will be included. But when the final version comes out, those ideas are gone.
Another big issue is how bills are presented. They are often thousands of pages long. They include all sorts of unrelated policies. It's like a take-it-or-leave-it deal. You can't change anything. You just have to accept it or reject it.
This wasn't always the case. In the past, most business in the House was done under an open rule. Any member could suggest changes. But over the last 20 years, both parties have moved away from this. Now, most bills are presented under closed or structured rules. This means no changes are allowed, or only a few handpicked ones are.
The last time the House considered an open rule was in 2016. Since then, the voices of regular members have been silenced. Leaders from both parties have made sure of that.
This is a big problem. It's not just about one party or one leader. It's about how the system is set up. It's about how decisions are made. And it's about how the voices of regular members are often ignored.
