"If we’re going to have arguments, let’s have arguments – but let’s make them debates worthy of this body and worthy of this country."
This line gave me some tingles--I've long been done with "bipartisanship" as a means of accomplishing important things. Fake agreement (or 9 people meeting to the right of the middle) has obviously not worked for getting our government to function.
And that's the thing... our government is supposed to DO stuff. Standstills do no favors for any state in the Union.
So how do we get to the point where we have worthwhile debates about very important issues? Our elected representatives have long forgotten the art of discussion...there hasn't been real debate in the Senate or House in a L O N G time.
Joni Ernst has made it clear in her response that debate is mostly still off the table. Everything is couched in what the Republican Congress wants and daring the President to disagree... cooperate or else... what? She agrees that strategies for fighting ISIS (ISIL) can be debated, so at least there's that. But I wonder how this debate can take place with so many participants out of practice.
...and what exactly are our representatives supposed to debate? Their opinions about the issues at hand? The opinions of their constituents? The opinions of the loudest or wealthiest residents of our country? What is best for the middle class... or corporations...or maybe there is a way to lay out issues in a way that really gets at what's important?
Can we get to a point where real conversations actually happen? I have my doubts... and that makes me sad. I want to think that we can get past looking for the best cheap shots for the TV audience and for what will get the most votes... we need to start talking about what is best for this country... and not just for what looks good today.
We have to figure out how to debate important issues ... and look at issues beyond the span of an election cycle.
How do get to the point where our government discusses issues in a way that is worthy of the term "debate"... where do we start?