The full title is Restoring the Consent of the Governed: How Americans Can Hold Congress More Accountable for Serving the National Interest by Bill Bridgman. The title and subtitle are a mouthful but it does summarize the book nicely.

The book is neither long nor expensive. I think it is interesting, well done, and important. The problem it addresses is one I think most Americans can agree with. There is wide spread agreement that the U.S Congress is just not doing a very good job.

Amazon says it is the equivalent of 50 pages so I guess you could call it an long essay or maybe a pamphlet-length opinion piece . By the way, I’m not saying it is only available from Amazon. It is probably available through most outlets selling ebooks. I just happens that I had the Kindle version.

Why is Congress unable to do the job the American people expect and need? And more importantly, can Congress be fixed and how? Can it once again be an effective branch of the United States government?

The good news is the answer is quite simple. The bad news is the solution is not easy.

Bill Bridgman has a suggestion to fix Congress. He does not think it is the only way or the best way but he thinks it important that we begin the discussion and he some good ideas on fixing the current situation.

Here a a few more ideas but I think Mr. Bridgman’s idea gets to the heart of the problem better. There is certainly possible to combine or modify all of these ideas.

I agree with his main idea and think he has found a reasonable solution. I don’t agree with it all but the changes I would make in his suggestion are minor and certainly more could occur to me as I continue thinking and hearing other suggestions. I think it is important to continue the conversation that Bill is trying to start.

So I would suggest that all American who are less than satisfied with Congress, begin by reading this book as well as considering other ideas and thinking about ways to fix Congress. And continue our national conversation on ways to fix Congress.