Bipartisan Disappointment

I watched part of the bipartisan conference in Oklahoma today and read a statement by the group posted at this Newsday
site.

I am disappointed. To me they basically moaned about the lack of collaboration, and hoped that the presidential candidates would be more trans-partisan. yada, yada, yada.

Only former Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa) pointed out that the reason we have this problem with polarization is because the cost of campaigns are prohibitive to most of us. Implying that the constant pandering to extremist donors decays pragmatism and collaboration.

This missed opportunity was for this group to become the gathering place for Americans who want to see our election system reformed to minimize the influence of money and for redistricting to be reformed to make elections more competitive.

As a Texan I watched as the GOP gamed our redistricting process only to result in our losing significant seniority in the Congress.

I read that Governor Schwarzenegger’s efforts to reform redistricting in California is largely resisted by leaders like Rep Nancy Pelosi because she does not want Democrats to lose the advantages they now have in California.

Both parties are adversaries to fair elections and it would take statesmanship and courage to make the corrections.

I am heart-broken that instead of the USA being an example of the continuing process of improving representative government we are more likely to be a warning that the common good can not stand up to self interest.