In support of partisanship

Richard Lugar lost the Indiana Senate primary to Richard Mourdock, a radical right-winger. …his thoughtful farewell letter

 

“Unfortunately, we have an increasing number of legislators in both parties who have adopted an unrelenting partisan viewpoint.  This shows up in countless vote studies that find diminishing intersections between Democrat and Republican positions.  Partisans at both ends of the political spectrum are dominating the political debate in our country.   And partisan groups, including outside groups that spent millions against me in this race, are determined to see that this continues.  They have worked to make it as difficult as possible for a legislator of either party to hold independent views or engage in constructive compromise.  If that attitude prevails in American politics, our government will remain mired in the dysfunction we have witnessed during the last several years.  And I believe that if this attitude expands in the Republican Party, we will be relegated to minority status.  Parties don't succeed for long if they stop appealing to voters who may disagree with them on some issues.”

 

I take issue with the idea that some holding un-compromising views cannot be open minded to discussion of those views.  To hold principles is to be very resistant to violating them. Then there is everything else, a world of possible compromising. As to the governments dysfunction, the goals of a functional government are in question.  A complete  reboot may be in order.

 

I have pots of plants here in Tucson, which sometime get sickly.  Often, on raising the pot, I find a large root of some desert plant going into the pot to suck it dry.  I believe there are currently too many diversions of public money that are causing the current fiscal crisis. We need to find and cut those roots, which are causing our sickliness.

 

I judge as diversion anything being done that is not specifically enumerated in the constitution. Trimming off unconstitutional functions of government would free both people and money, for more profitable use in the private sector.