A Balance in The Force?

Jim Morin, Miami Herald

Apparently the "nuclear option" won't be used (yet), and a group of bipartisan lawmakers have hammered out an agreement that will prevent both a filibuster and a potential ban on filibusters that have haunted the Senate in recent history.

In exchange for a reprieve from a ban on filibusters for judicial presidential nominees, the Democrats have agreed to allow a vote for Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown, and William Pryor, whom they consider too extreme to render judgement constitutionally based on their personal beliefs.

Is this a deal with the devil? Is this how the Dark Side gained a foothold in the Empire, transforming it into the tool of corruption that succesfully overthrew the bureaucratic behemoth that was the Federation?

Okay, enough of the Star Wars analogy.

If the "nuclear option" had matured to fruition, it would have led to unprecedented presidential power, overpowering any minority opposition. Regardless of whose hands this power was in, it would remove the will of even the slightest minority in our government, resulting in the absolute power of anyone who could persuade barely more than half of the population to support their cause.

Given the nature of the political spin machines and the gullibility of the average American to patriotic and emotional images, this would leave the most power in the hands of those able to manipulate the most people.

Oh wait, that's already happening. That's why we're in this mess in the first place.

Let's try again.

If we give absolute power to those who wish to rule absolutely, they will become absolutely corrupt. Now we're back to the Star Wars analogy. I guess life does imitate art (or vice versa) after all.