People are out of work. We are fighting two wars in foreign lands. Our rights are easily violated by an act put in place by the previous administration. And college football doesn’t have a playoff.
Guess which one got Congress’ attention in a subcommittee Wednesday?
For the record, one thing I agree with President Obama on is the need for a college playoff system. Frankly, the way they pick the national champion for the big schools is pathetically idiotic. Honestly, I don’t know many people who actually think that the system is OK. Those who do, are usually fans of the team who is crowned Nation Champion that year…but the next year they’re on my side on this one.
But where I differ with the President is on where government’s place is on this. It would be simple for Congress to step in, pass a law, and make it happen. It would get me what I want, and would end up being better for NCAA football as a whole. But that’s irrelevant. It’s just another case of government inserting their nose in business that isn’t their own.
The NCAA is a private organization, and as such it should be immune to government interference on internal issues…like whether to have a playoff in all or some of their divisions. But Congress isn’t going to let that happen. You see, a lot of people want a playoff, so many of those in Washington see this as a way to score brownie points with the folks at home.
Unfortunately, this is just another example of how government really works, as opposed to how it should work.
Another example of lawmakers acting as unqualified mechanics fixing a machine that doesn’t belong to them. Must every good idea or suggestion have the force of law?
I would also like to know; under what authority does Congress have the power to regulate college football playoffs? It’s a slippery slope. What’s next? College baseball playoffs? Cheerleader competitions? The National Spelling Bee? Dog Shows?
The less that Congress touches; the better off we are.
They’re probably using the “interstate commerce” excuse again, like they do for so many other things. But, as you point out, there is a slippery slope of other things they may start to regulate without any real clear reason or authority to do.
Ah, the good ole interstate commerce clause. If we don’t watch it, the feds will be telling private industry what to do. They’ll be firing CEOs, setting executive pay, and giving ownership away to foreign companies. Oh wait. Never mind.
I’m glad you caught yourself, because I was about to point out a few things to ya
Actually it’s probably the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. But I suppose you could argue that’s an extension of the ICC
I wouldn’t call it an extension, but IIRC, it uses the ICC as the part of the Consitution that permits the Act in the first place. Some might call it an extension, but I don’t quite see it that way.
To-MAY-to, to-MAH-To if you ask me