the virtues of the flip flop
A lot of people say that we should enact a Constitutional Amendment enacting term limits on Representatives and Senators. This is an idea that I have always been against. I've argued that it's something that makes us feel like we're "doing something" versus actually helping.
The argument for it (in its shortest form) is that power corrupts and thus, professional politicians become corrupt (even if they aren't when they start). So, limiting the amount of time they can spend in the office would keep them from being corrupt and make them more accountable to their constituents.
I argue that having term limits would do nothing toward eliminating corruption. In fact, I could see how doing so would INCREASE corruption. Serving in the House or Senate might no longer seem like an end in itself, but a stepping stone toward something more presitigious and rewarding (monetarily so).
Having someone who has served for a long time allows him or her to use the "long lens of history". They can say to their chamber, "we've been here before and done this before." Yes, students of history can say so as well, from an academic perspective, but there is no substitution for experience. I often use SEN Byrd as the exemplar of this. He is the longest serving Senator in the history of our Senate and his views changed over time. He flip-flopped.
I also argue that having long serving Senators and Congressmen actually helps because they have the long lens on history. I use SEN Byrd as someone who shows how, over time, having someone who has "been there and done that" helps. His speech pre-Iraq was absolutely moving. The link is here if the video doesn't transfer over.
SEN Byrd changed on a lot of fronts over the years, going from a KKK member and opposition of the Civil Rights Act (remember when politicians actually HAD to filibuster, and not just threaten with one??) to someone who championed Civil Rights and Health Care. Now, after his death, a Constituent is releasing a letter that SEN Byrd wrote him regarding repeal of Don't Ask/Don't Tell. In it, the Senator, six days before his death, supports repeal.
Over the years he was in the Senate, he was able to see many things change, and he himself changed. Imagine now, if he could stand on the floor and say, "I was there..." He could say he was there before don't ask was implemented and how he was afraid it would ruin the Army. He could say why they implemented it. He could say he was wrong, and it's time to implement now. He could stand against McCain's intransigence on the issue and say, "I've changed. America has changed. It's time the military changes."
It helps our country to have a long view of history, and sometimes (my opinion), it helps to have individuals who can pull on their own experiences and memories to "flip flop"--in the case of SEN Byrd, for equality.
The argument for it (in its shortest form) is that power corrupts and thus, professional politicians become corrupt (even if they aren't when they start). So, limiting the amount of time they can spend in the office would keep them from being corrupt and make them more accountable to their constituents.
I argue that having term limits would do nothing toward eliminating corruption. In fact, I could see how doing so would INCREASE corruption. Serving in the House or Senate might no longer seem like an end in itself, but a stepping stone toward something more presitigious and rewarding (monetarily so).
Having someone who has served for a long time allows him or her to use the "long lens of history". They can say to their chamber, "we've been here before and done this before." Yes, students of history can say so as well, from an academic perspective, but there is no substitution for experience. I often use SEN Byrd as the exemplar of this. He is the longest serving Senator in the history of our Senate and his views changed over time. He flip-flopped.
I also argue that having long serving Senators and Congressmen actually helps because they have the long lens on history. I use SEN Byrd as someone who shows how, over time, having someone who has "been there and done that" helps. His speech pre-Iraq was absolutely moving. The link is here if the video doesn't transfer over.
SEN Byrd changed on a lot of fronts over the years, going from a KKK member and opposition of the Civil Rights Act (remember when politicians actually HAD to filibuster, and not just threaten with one??) to someone who championed Civil Rights and Health Care. Now, after his death, a Constituent is releasing a letter that SEN Byrd wrote him regarding repeal of Don't Ask/Don't Tell. In it, the Senator, six days before his death, supports repeal.
Over the years he was in the Senate, he was able to see many things change, and he himself changed. Imagine now, if he could stand on the floor and say, "I was there..." He could say he was there before don't ask was implemented and how he was afraid it would ruin the Army. He could say why they implemented it. He could say he was wrong, and it's time to implement now. He could stand against McCain's intransigence on the issue and say, "I've changed. America has changed. It's time the military changes."
It helps our country to have a long view of history, and sometimes (my opinion), it helps to have individuals who can pull on their own experiences and memories to "flip flop"--in the case of SEN Byrd, for equality.
posted by Adam at 10:27 AM
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