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Comment by dynomight | Hacker News Reader

The separation of powers seems to be our only saving grace at the moment.

The notion that one style of government is appropriate for all peoples in all places seems absurd. The US constitution was written up by and for people in a particular place and situation and the tensions that existed then look to have escalated to the civil war and these tensions look to remain today. It's interesting to read the anti-federalist papers.

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What we have is a triumvirate with hammer-paper-scissors powers. Triumvirates in history have tended to be stable governments over longer periods.

I think the article makes a mistake in not mentioning the 3rd branch - the Judiciary.

I agree. The independent judiciary, in my opinion, is what has been largely responsible for the effectiveness of the U.S Government since it's inception. This concept of a body that can rule on the constitutionality of laws and acts was a revolutionary concept.

I want to take pains to emphasis that this is relative. Contemporary issues and criticisms aside (not to mention those raised in the article), it's a system that has served remarkably well, especially compared to its peers.

Yup, and indeed our problems have originated when we ignore the rock-paper-scissors nature of our federal government. As I mentioned in another post, we should have seen a lot more impeachments of federal officials over time.

Direct election of senators was a huge mistake that has dramatically restructured the balance of power. There were originally four branches. The state governments were way more powerful.

Up to a point yes, but the politicization of the judiciary through elected judicial posts and other elected official posts such as election organisation and drawing of electoral boundaries introduce serious weaknesses into the system.

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