[humint]

Divided We Stand, United We Fall

Excellent article. I do however see a role for congress in American foreign affairs. American citizens with foreign interests have no procedural redress if they disagree with American Foreign Policy. Who should they go to? The courts are not beholden to them. The State Department is not beholden to them. Only elected officials can champion an issue they see as essential. The question then becomes one of qualifications. Who is qualified to formulate alternative policy? Think tanks, corporations, NGOs or activists all have a place in a relatively confused policy making matrix. Democracy is messy, but from it springs unparalleled beauty. That's why it works.

[expatguy]

I have a better question for you.

I've lived and worked for the last 20 years in Southeast Asia and while I remain an American citizen and pay taxes I have no representation in our nation's government.

Simply put, I don't have a Congressman

[expatguy]

One more thing, If I might ~ I understand what you are saying, but I also am deeply embarrassed to see elected congressmen overseas making an ass of themselves and in the process jeopardizing diplomatic and other efforts that have been going on for years.

So, Im sorry I find it hard to accept that congressmen have any business overseas - their only business should be to represent their constituents - the point you brought up is that their constituents might have overseas interests.

Im not sure how to address that issue, but I do respect it.

I think the best way would be for congressmen to go through the state department and that their actions be severely limited in who they are allowed to talk to an who they are allowed to meet with on an offical level.