STOPPING THE PARTISAN WAR

As referenced in the Intramuralist’s “Recent Good Reads” listing, Common Ground, co-authored by liberal Bob Beckel and conservative Cal Thomas, is an excellent book.  Endorsed by both George McGovern and the recently deceased Jack Kemp, Common Ground encourages each of us to one, end partisanship, and thus two, “save America.”  The book is insightful, especially for any of us whose blood boils when the Washington wrangling intensifies.

Beckel and Thomas contend that our nation has not always existed in such a polarized political state.  Unfortunately, beginning in the 70’s, polarization was promoted and party loyalists such as themselves contributed to the corrosive culture that currently exists.  No wonder both parties are witnessing their membership rolls dwindle!

According to Beckel and Thomas...

The size of the federal government grew under both Democratic and Republican presidents.  These new agencies and departments created a substantial increase in government rules and regulations, impacting citizens and businesses alike.  The growth of governments produced cadres of political activists who would descend on Washington, demanding (and getting) access to policy makers.  Activists working for change were countered by an increase in the number of people who worked to protect the status quo.  The result was a tenfold increase in the number of lobbyists and lawyers...

Something else happened on Carter’s watch that would feed polarization.  Congress, especially the House, began to change the structure of committees.  Important committees, including Ways and Means and Appropriations, established subcommittees with new chairmen.  New subcommittees meant more staffers and congressional hearings, which meant more lobbyists and special-interest groups would descend on Washington.

These activists, lawyers, lobbyists, and special-interest groups possess personal motivations in regard to singular agendas.  Polarization keeps their agenda alive.  The problem is that it also promotes skewed perspective.  Ask Presidents Clinton and Bush 42, who, according to Common Ground, served as “Polarization’s Poster Children.”  Ask Ann Coulter and Arianna Huffington, whose careers have thrived on it.  Or ask Robert Bork, whose career was derailed by it.  Again, according to our liberal and conservative authors:

The Bork battle [Reagan’s 2nd nominee for the Supreme Court] rewrote the rules for future nominees.  No longer were a potential jurist’s qualifications paramount; ideology and personal issues were now fair game.  After Bork, no Supreme Court nominee would be as candid in confirmation hearings as Bork had been.  The Bork defeat, as much as any other event, helped launch a new era of “the politics of personal destruction.”

This week, Judge Sonia Sotomayor was introduced as the next Supreme Court nominee.  She deserves our respect and no attacks on personal issues.   As a nation, we deserve meaningful congressional hearings.  We deserve no “rubber stamps,” no “over-valuing” or “de-valuing” of race, and full disclosure of her qualifications.

AR