For years my dad has shared an interesting idea on how to get our legislative representatives out of their partisan rut. He has an intriguing plan to get Washington D.C. working. To get the Democrats and Republicans entrenched in their partys’ ideologies to work together, he suggests having them work anonymously.
My dad, like many other Americans, is tired of seeing politicians swaggering onto the House or Senate floor to play to the cameras. I agree with him. I am also tired of hearing legislation introduced with fancy speeches and sound bites intended to impress party leaders. I’m disillusioned by members of Congress spouting the party platform instead of trying to reach consensus. I would really like to see our leaders working together to do what is right for our country.
To get that done, here is what my dad suggests. When a legislator wants to introduce a bill, he or she should have to do so behind some sort of screen, with his or her voice disguised. That way, the legislative body would have to vote on the merit of the argument—not the political affiliation of its presenter.
They wouldn’t know who was speaking, a Republican or Democrat, a foe or ally. They would have to decide for themselves, basing their vote on what is best for their constituents and for the United States. They could vote their conscience, not their political commitment.
It would be wonderful if it would work, but I don’t think it would be possible. All of the legislators would have to be isolated, separate from one another so they couldn’t figure out who was speaking by process of elimination. And of course, just as happens in politics now, there would be all kinds of backroom wheeling and dealing and secret code phrases that would give away party affiliation.
But it’s an interesting idea. It’s one I’ve never thought was remotely possible, until I stumbled upon an article titled No Labels – A Cure for Washington Gridlock.
The concept is not as clever as my dad’s idea, but I like it. No Labels has been launched by what its leaders describe as “a bipartisan caucus of problem solvers.” To date 25 lawmakers have signed on, from the House and the Senate, from both sides of the aisle. The group claims to have 500,000 members. At a recent meeting of the “Problem Solvers” in New York, there were 1,500 citizen supporters. On hand were 13 Democrat and 11 Republican legislators who have committed to No Labels, agreeing that problem-solving is good politics.
The group’s co-chairs are former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, a Republican, and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat. I like the comment made by Huntsman regarding the current budget battles. He said, “If we had a group of 75 to 80 Problem Solvers, they would be looking at this as a mathematical challenge, a real economic challenge, as opposed to just the partisan point-scoring that just drives the marketplace crazy.”
Visit the website www.nolabels.org to learn more for yourself. It’s an interesting site. One of the little bipartisan nuances that I like is that when you click from section to section, it alternates who comes first—Democrat, Independent or Republican. Apparently at No Labels, they mix up the order, carrying the message that no party is better or more important than another. It’s a thought we should all share. Party does not matter. America does.
There is no credit to being a comedian,
when you have the whole government
working for you. All you have to do is report
the facts. I don’t even have to exaggerate.
Will Rogers
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