It seems to be fashionable these days to decry the endless "bickering in Congress."  Story after story bemoans the incessant debate.

What are we thinking?  Debate--bickering--is one of the foundations of a free democratic society.  It serves many valuable purposes:

1. It allows many viewpoints to be heard.  When someone comes up with an idea for legislation, that person may have failed to take into account unforeseen ramifications.  Open debate helps to bring out those issues.

2. It helps prevent one party from running roughshod over the others.  If one party becomes too powerful, it will become increasingly corrupt, regardless of the founding principles of the party.  Debate serves as a check against this corruption.

3. It slows down legislation.  This is a good thing!  Invariably, new legislation brings with it new expenses and new rules and regulations.  The longer we can hold off the suffocating web of government red tape, the better.

4. It leads to better decisions.  Congress passed--in a hurry, and without much debate--authorization to go to war against Iraq.  If we had slowed down the process, perhaps with some "bickering," we might not be in the quagmire we now find ourselves.

5. It staves off government oppression.  The best examples of countries that do not have political bickering are dictatorships.

Let the bickering continue!

Copyright © 2006 by Tony Isaac