Re:Live Updates: House Adjourns Again with No Resolution on ...
by ggm on Thursday January 05, 2023 @10:03PM
(#34270430)
Why do people always reach to reductionism? As if there aren't great democracies which elect a neutral speaker, and do a significantly better job than this.
I don't like how a notionally neutral role has been distorted into a political weapon. Historically within modern history the UK parliament has had independent and functional speakers and deputy speakers. Lord Thomas of Tonypandy and Betty Boothroyd come to mind. John Berkow rather let the side down with some facetious behaviour in the chamber and bullying accusations but overall, a neutral arbiter between opposing sides chosen from amongst them is possible.
Fast convergence is not inherently a problem. What's a problem here is not the speaker election, it's the underlying dynamics of destroy-the-joint performative dimwits and serial liars. You know this as well as everyone else.
I don't like how a notionally neutral role has been distorted into a political weapon. Historically within modern history the UK parliament has had independent and functional speakers and deputy speakers. Lord Thomas of Tonypandy and Betty Boothroyd come to mind. John Berkow rather let the side down with some facetious behaviour in the chamber and bullying accusations but overall, a neutral arbiter between opposing sides chosen from amongst them is possible.
Fast convergence is not inherently a problem. What's a problem here is not the speaker election, it's the underlying dynamics of destroy-the-joint performative dimwits and serial liars. You know this as well as everyone else.