In dueling opinions, Commissioner Andrew Ferguson claims he's just following the Constitution, but Khan says many of his actions are aimed at "undermining the FTC."
HNR Block barely even needs to exist, it just repackages info the government typically already has. It literally lobbies against making taxes easier and cheaper. Why does this insufferable prick think it should have less oversight and more authority to inconvience it's own customers? Oh yeah, cause he's That Guy.
The main problem with Ferguson's argument, of course, is that the "voice of the American People" is undeniably polluted. A combination of gerrymandering and Dark Money means that a goodly portion of the American People have no voice in the legislative branch, federal or state. Even a vote turnout of 100% wouldn't fix this at the gerrymandered state level. If Ferguson really wants The American People to have a say he'd support overturning Citizens United and banning political gerrymandering. That is, of course, the farthest thing from this oligarchic mind.
Could someone help me understand why Biden appointed Ferguson in the first place? I understand his intention was likely to continue the tradition of having a bipartisan FTC by nominating two conservative commissioners, but why did it have to be THIS guy? His background/experience is full of major red flags. Why didn't Biden nominate someone who is notably more moderate? Perhaps McConnell/Senate Republicans asked Biden to consider him and Biden obliged, or they used some other kind of leverage to catapult this loose cannon past Biden onto the FTC?
Part of this is not tradition; it's the law. There cannot be more than three commissioners of one party. The tradition part of this — and what you also are kind of getting at — is that the party not in the White House selects their nominees, but it's a tradition that would just result in no nominees being approved if a president didn't follow it. The Democrats have the majority because they're in the White House. That's kind of the beginning and end of it. (Ironically, it was actually Sen. Josh Hawley who had put a hold on Ferguson's nomination, delaying his confirmation.)
We should all fear the dismantling of the administrative state.
HNR Block barely even needs to exist, it just repackages info the government typically already has. It literally lobbies against making taxes easier and cheaper. Why does this insufferable prick think it should have less oversight and more authority to inconvience it's own customers? Oh yeah, cause he's That Guy.
The main problem with Ferguson's argument, of course, is that the "voice of the American People" is undeniably polluted. A combination of gerrymandering and Dark Money means that a goodly portion of the American People have no voice in the legislative branch, federal or state. Even a vote turnout of 100% wouldn't fix this at the gerrymandered state level. If Ferguson really wants The American People to have a say he'd support overturning Citizens United and banning political gerrymandering. That is, of course, the farthest thing from this oligarchic mind.
This sort of ideological screed, untethered from controlling law, should be seen more as an audition for a life tenured judgeship than anything else.
Could someone help me understand why Biden appointed Ferguson in the first place? I understand his intention was likely to continue the tradition of having a bipartisan FTC by nominating two conservative commissioners, but why did it have to be THIS guy? His background/experience is full of major red flags. Why didn't Biden nominate someone who is notably more moderate? Perhaps McConnell/Senate Republicans asked Biden to consider him and Biden obliged, or they used some other kind of leverage to catapult this loose cannon past Biden onto the FTC?
Part of this is not tradition; it's the law. There cannot be more than three commissioners of one party. The tradition part of this — and what you also are kind of getting at — is that the party not in the White House selects their nominees, but it's a tradition that would just result in no nominees being approved if a president didn't follow it. The Democrats have the majority because they're in the White House. That's kind of the beginning and end of it. (Ironically, it was actually Sen. Josh Hawley who had put a hold on Ferguson's nomination, delaying his confirmation.)
Thank you! I saw that about Hawley and saved an article on it to read later. Thanks again for taking the time to answer my question!
First of all, thank you for pointing this out. I would have missed it, and I would have regretted missing it.
Secondly, I really like Khan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ak3YpqPqLg
What's the primary objective
of Project 2025? Could it be
destroying the administrative
state?!
I understand the equal
balance on the different
Commissions; FTC, SEC,
but I don't think these people,
like the 3 SCOTUS plants, are
being vetted and questioned
deeply enough.