Has Bipartisanship become a political flaw?
MADISON: On June 2, 2010, the Appleton Post Crescent published an editorial, “Bipartisanship becoming political flaw.”
Here is a portion of the Editorial:
The public typically likes the word “bipartisan.” It doesn’t like fighting between parties — especially when it takes over debate and gets in the way of Madison or Washington getting things done for us.
We say we like it when both sides work together for the public good, even if that has to include a compromise sometimes.
But what we say and how we act and vote are growing apart. Increasingly, moderates from both the Republican and the Democratic parties are losing power. Increasingly, just working with the “other party” poses political risks. — Appleton Popst Crescent. “”Editorial: Bipartisanship becoming political flaw, June 2, 2010.
The editorial inspired me to write the following, which was submitted to the Post-Crescent but not published, so here it is, revised for this venue:
As a longtime medical marijuana advocate and frequent Capitol visitor, I personally have observed how bipartisanship has withered away in the state legislature.
