November 27, 2013

Senate's Intolerance

Tolerance for different points of view was rejected by the Senate Democrats when they “went nuclear” by changing the rules so that filibusters are no longer allowed on judicial and other appointments. “Speaking truth to power”, challenging authority to do what is right rather than what is possible, is now far harder to do on the Senate floor. Many citizens have expressed the desire for bipartisanship, or at least compromise, in our government, but this partisan power grab weakens the filibuster, thus removing one of the most powerful incentives for meeting the opposing point of view halfway. Though the Democratic party often positions itself as the party that is for minority rights, its members in the Senate feel no qualms about stripping rights from the minority party. It’s particularly disappointing that the proximate cause for this measure was an attempt to stack a court in favor of the Democratic party, clearly showing that this maneuver is not motivated by a desire to do what is best for the nation, but instead by a desire to do what is best for a particular party. I am saddened to see that debate and the reasoned exchange of ideas will now be much harder to do in a legislative body of a free people.