Here’s an idea for one of those Internet thingies for someone to do, someone who isn’t lazy or busy or anything. Take ten years or so of legislation that had fairly close votes in the House (easily obtainable from Thomas) and make a quiz where the quizee reads the (CRS) summary of the bill and guesses which Party (mostly) supported it. I suspect that nearly everybody would figure it out nearly every time. Bills that protect labor, the environment, the poor, non-white people, none-straight people, the ill-educated and foreigners would be supported by Democrats, and bills that protect property rights, management, owners, and religious racial or sexual majorities would be supported by Republicans, right?
I really would be curious to know how people would do on a quiz like that. I wonder if I would do as well as I think I would.
The point that I would be trying to make, of course, is that there are political parties for a reason, that they espouse different philosophies of government, and that it is in fact perfectly reasonable to vote for the Party, not just the candidate. On the other hand, if I’m wrong, and most people can’t differentiate the Parties on legislation, then that’s a useful thing to know, too, isn’t it?
Tolerabimus quod tolerare debemus,
-Vardibidian.
Is the summary of the bill any more accurate than the title of the bill?
Much, much more accurate. It’s done by the CRS, for one thing, and not the lobbyists. Now, I’m not saying the summary is very accurate, but it’s much, much more accurate than the title.
Thanks,
-V.
I know, comparing titles and summaries is wandering afield from your post, but along the lines of “I cut, you choose”, perhaps bills without at least two cosponsors from the other party should be named by the other party, with names vetted by the CRS.
Now, that does sound Madisonian.
By the way, here’s one just for giggles: H. Res. 1113, Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother’s Day. Now, this did pass 412-0, but then there was a Table Motion to reconsider, which passed 237-178, largely on party lines.
The problem is, I still can’t figure out whether the Democrats were voting against the motion by reconsidering it, or voting in favor of it. Or what the hell was going on. For the record, though: YHB is in favor of Mothers, but against Mothers Day.
Thanks,
-V.