A Worthy Opinion!

Opinion pieces by the score compete with the news across the board. Some are regular contributors, others are 'guest' writers, commentators, or personalities being interviewed, along with their views on most anything. It's a bit much - certainly too much to listen to, or read, and absorb. That despite a great deal of these 'opinion pieces' being truly worthy of one's time - and, that might occasionally include this ViewPoint!

With that in mind, we are devoting this issue of ViewPoint to a first time scan of someone else's 'opinion'. Quite by accident we came across a column written by one Joe Reeder, which appeared in a recent issue of the monthly AARP Bulletin, entitled "Break Up The Parties". It was so compelling in its approach to an idea whose time certainly has come, that ViewPoint presents Mr. Reeders' argument as a suggestion worthy of your time and attention. Herewith, partially verbatim, partially excerpted, and generally adapted by this writer of opinions, is a way to break the stranglehold held by either, or both parties of both houses of Congress.

The plan entails no more than moving a few feet, or yards, from where one sits to where one might sit if all Senators and Congressional office holders agreed that something must be done to end the lockstep attitudes prevalent in both houses. Here's how it works:

Abandon seating by party. End the long held insistence that each party provide seating on the left, or right, side of the chambers. Instead, seat members alphabetically, by name or by state, without regard for party affiliation - a system used around the world by school authorities who recognize the damage done by grouping individuals according to some predetermined  philosophy or belief which calls for unanimity of response when speaking on issues, or voting.

As Reeder says, "Today's segregated seating arrangement shelters our representatives from opposing points of view, reduces the need for common courtesy, reinforces the worst tendencies of a two-party system, and undermines efforts at cooperation."

Moreover, as reported by Reeder,"Coined by Rufus Miles Jr., a federal official under Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson, what is now called Mile's Law declares: 'Where you stand depends on where you sit.' It was one of the most powerful laws that Congress never passed." 

The suggestion that parties be fluid in their seating arrangements include a more 'democratic' means of Committee presentation, i.e., the chair should be seated in the middle, and members should be arranged by seniority, on both sides, not party. Again, how much more civilized it would be to see and hear members address witnesses or others called before the committee from a formal seating rather than a "we and them" grouping! And, wouldn't it be more meaningful to spectators who watch the President address the Congress on television, or from the galleries, to see him speak directly to the assemblage - and not to one side then the other! Or, to have a standing response from the audience indicate pros and cons by individuals arising - not one group sitting on their hands while the opposition arises en masse?

Mr. Reeder points out that the Mile's Law would not eliminate party fealty, nor turn quarreling opponents into 'Buddy Boys and Girls' - not by a long shot. But a sense of E pluribus unum, might go a long way in justifying the Latin inscription on US Coins. After all, how can this nation be as one when we can't seem to agree an anything if it requires a vote in Congress!

ViewPoint congratulates Joe Reeder for calling our attention to a simple means of establishing equality between both parties. Now, who will be the first legislator in the Congress to draft a bill which one day will carry his or her name to live forever as the simple step that led to a body of lawmakers whose consistent accomplishments are unlike any other democratic society on the face of this planet???

Richard Carlton

June 15, 2010

Issue No. 12