In a recent heated conversation with a friend about Obamacare, I sided with President Barack Obama, even though the current law is far from perfect, just on the something's-got-to-be-done theory.
My friend, an insurance professional, argued about specific problems with the bill's provisions and how it could be better. I asked why his side did not present a comprehensive bill for this other vision (I agreed with most of it).
He replied that Obamacare was a bill that ran to more than 2,000 pages, which no one could even read completely prior to enactment, let alone understand.
One can't just whip up 2,000 pages of law.
Then I had a thought: Forget the balanced-budget amendment. The amendment we need is to limit bills to 50 pages of clear intentions and principles. Appropriate federal agencies can write up regulations that Congress can ratify.
The gridlock comes from the insanity of 2,000-page laws.