A Great Day
As we all now know, the crisis over the filibuster in the U.S. Senate has now been averted after a deal was struck among 14 Senators (7 Democrats and 7 Republicans) involving an agreement to allow a vote for cloture on the nominations of Owen, Brown, and Pryor in exchange for not changing the Senate rules to eliminate the filibuster for judicial nominees in the future.
While the pundits argue over who wins and loses by this agreement, I look on in admiration of those 14 Senators who had the willingness to engage in the art of compromise. Neither side of a battle wins completely when a compromise occurs. That's the whole point! Both sides have to be willing to give up something in order to reach a decision that is in the best interest of the common good.
However, the American people as a whole, who really are not a part of this battle between the extremes, are the real winners today. The institution of the U.S. Senate as a whole has been protected and preserved by the actions of these Senators, and that consequence is in our long-term best interest as a collective people. The balance of power among the branches of government and between the two parties of our American political system is a crucial component to the continuation of democracy in America.
Given all I have stated, we should not fool ourselves into thinking that a situation such as that which has been averted will not possibly occur again at some point. After all, the passions that brought about this deal can (and undoubtedly will) fade with time, personal political motivations will once again rise to the surface, and men and women who possess high regard for the common good and respect for our institutions may not be in a position of power as this group was today. Furthermore, in a more practical sense, squabbles over the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" may prove to be too much for some level of civility to be maintained and for the compromise of today to hold up.
Nonetheless, I think we should be satisfied with today's developments and hope that this situation serves as a reminder to those who represent us in Washington that their purpose is one that extends beyond themselves and beyond this time in support of a higher ideal.
While the pundits argue over who wins and loses by this agreement, I look on in admiration of those 14 Senators who had the willingness to engage in the art of compromise. Neither side of a battle wins completely when a compromise occurs. That's the whole point! Both sides have to be willing to give up something in order to reach a decision that is in the best interest of the common good.
However, the American people as a whole, who really are not a part of this battle between the extremes, are the real winners today. The institution of the U.S. Senate as a whole has been protected and preserved by the actions of these Senators, and that consequence is in our long-term best interest as a collective people. The balance of power among the branches of government and between the two parties of our American political system is a crucial component to the continuation of democracy in America.
Given all I have stated, we should not fool ourselves into thinking that a situation such as that which has been averted will not possibly occur again at some point. After all, the passions that brought about this deal can (and undoubtedly will) fade with time, personal political motivations will once again rise to the surface, and men and women who possess high regard for the common good and respect for our institutions may not be in a position of power as this group was today. Furthermore, in a more practical sense, squabbles over the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" may prove to be too much for some level of civility to be maintained and for the compromise of today to hold up.
Nonetheless, I think we should be satisfied with today's developments and hope that this situation serves as a reminder to those who represent us in Washington that their purpose is one that extends beyond themselves and beyond this time in support of a higher ideal.
posted by Anonymous @ 8:35 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home