Who needs Congress?

Today, President Obama passed the Dream Act.  Congress proved unable to pass it so the President decided to do it on his own.  One wonders what other laws Congress has failed to pass that the President will start enforcing.  There has been talk of the EPA imposing Cap & Trade.  Regardless of one's party affiliation, this should be of great concern.  That Nancy Pelosi came out in favor of this lawlessness shows that she doesn't understand the precedent or, more likely, she doesn't care as long as she gets her way.  If she doesn't squawk when a Democratic president usurps the legislative authority of Congress, what will she say when a Republican does the same?

There was much complaint that Bush did end runs around Congress.  However, he asked for and received Congressional approval for his invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.  Obama did not get approval for Libya, thus breaking the War Powers Resolution.  It is worth noting that the Congress passed that in 1973 because Nixon bombed Cambodia without Congressional approval.  Bush failed to pass his Amnesty through Congress but did not thereafter attempt to impose it executively.  Obama did not see the failure of Congress to pass the Dream Act as an impediment to enforcing it.  Congress refused to pass legislation to save GM and Chrysler with federal loans.  Both Bush and Obama provided those loans anyway; that's embezzling.  Misappropriation of funds is an impeachable offense but Congress let them both get away with it.  Congress is required to pass a budget each year and yet has not passed one in 3 years.  Congress is complicit in making itself irrelevant.

In Ancient Rome, the Senate was the ruling body of the nation for centuries.  The Consuls - there were two elected each year - were analogous to the Presidency.  The power of the Roman Senate was overtaken by the increasing power of the consuls until the positions flipped.  Senator became a ceremonial role, a sinecure for the elites or a prize to be given by the emperor.  If the Presidency can pass law and congress calmly allows such usurpation, then who needs congress?  Are we still a republic?