[kaonashi]

sounds like an eminently responsible response to potential political sabotage of the economy

[PKop]

But it certainly doesn't sound like democracy

[JumpCrisscross]

> it certainly doesn't sound like democracy

The Constitution is a democratically-formed device, and the Constitution contains the 14th Amendment.

[PKop]

What does this have to do with the Federal Reserve subverting the will of elected representatives? If we're talking about the 14th amendment, we're not talking about the Fed sua sponte-ing some action.

[pdonis]

> the Federal Reserve subverting the will of elected representatives?

It isn't. The Federal Reserve Act, passed by Congress and signed by the President in 1913, allows the Fed to do all the things it does.

[vkou]

Both the 14th amendment, and this year's fiscal budget were voted on by elected representatives.

[PKop]

And so was the debt ceiling. I'm referring to the hypothetical proposed by the Federal reserve, not current-year policy.

[vkou]

That's just them failing to pay the bill for the dinner they ordered and ate.

[eli]

Neither does the debt ceiling, especially when it can be obstructed by a small minority.

[kaonashi]

If the legislature gives the treasury conflicting instructions, what is the most democratic way to resolve the contradiction?