A Change Is Coming (If We Vote)

We agree with Mark Hyman in his latest commentary that Senate bill 2590, which would make the budgeting process more transparent. This is a move that’s received widespread bipartisan support both within Congress and among political activists.

It’s too bad that Hyman can’t be bipartisan himself. He notes that the bill is sponsored by Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn. True, but it’s co-sponsored by Barak Obama, Democrat from Illinois. Of course, it’s against Hyman’s religion to mention a Democrat in a positive context.

More problematic is the idea lurking beneath the surface. Hyman attacks Alaska Republican Ted Stevens for putting a secret hold on this legislation. He’s got a good point. Actually, Democrat Robert Byrd also held up the legislation as well, and both he and Stevens should be criticized for it.

But by isolating one member of one of the houses of Congress and pointing to his passive resistance to one bill ignores the larger, more systematic issue facing us: the corruption running through Congress as a whole, primarily (but not solely) among Republicans.

Rhetorically, it serves Hyman’s purposes to scapegoat one Republican as a poster boy for the decade of quid pro quo arrangements and cozy lobbyist/politician relationships that have typified the GOP reign in Congress. It lets the Republicans as a group off the hook.

You’ll notice that when Hyman complains about Congress, he either derides the body as a whole, or isolates one or two figures (as he does in this commentary). But this ignores a whole set of problems that stem from the stranglehold of the GOP on Congress.

As we’ve noted here a number of times, the amount of pork barrel earmarks has exploded during the GOP control of Congress. Unless you think this is mere coincidence, it’s time for voters to realize that you can’t solve the problem by saying “a pox on both your houses” or tarring and feathering one or two particularly atrocious players.

You have to make a real change, which is precisely what Hyman will not call for.

And that’s The Counterpoint.

Hyman Index: 3.45