The Senate Intelligence Commitee has announced that they will pick up the investigation into Russian meddling in the last national election. The difference between the Senate committee's approach and the House’s approach is telling. Finally, a bipartisan effort to cooperate on getting to the facts of the issue is under way. Why this couldn’t happen in the House is a question that I ponder. But there is light in this lantern. I am happy to see that some politicians can act like statesmen and women even in this day.
In the Senate, the office holders generally have been there a while. And they only have to run for election once every six years. This means they have leeway to do their job as it ought to be done, instead of grandstanding to their political base. The members of the House run every two years, and can’t think beyond what the polls will look like if they do what is right. When the electorate follows feelings from sound bites, the Reps in the House have to pander to those feelings, instead of working on the needs of the nation as a whole. Retention of power trumps statesmanship in these situations every time.
If we Americans would grow up, maybe our politicians would do so too. When we all act like third-graders on the playground, is it any wonder that our politicians do so too? Politics is called the art of compromise, yet American politics has degenerated into a playground melee between rival factions. Demand of your elected officials that they act like grownups and maybe they will.
No comments:
Post a Comment