If nothing else, the past few days' drama over the so-called "nuclear option" -- eliminating the filibuster in the Senate for judicial nominees -- has starkly highlighted the critical importance of checks and balances in our system of government. Without checks and balances, the founding fathers of our country feared that abuse of power and tyranny of the majority would run amok. That's exactly why the founding fathers, in their great wisdom, set up our elaborate constitutional system aimed at limiting the power of the federal government. Unfortunately, today, there are increasing numbers of right-wing Republicans who want to do away with checks and balances, despite the fact that they have served us well for more than 200 years. Interestingly, some of the worst excesses in this nation's history have come about in periods of one-party rule. As Professor Andrew Burt of the University of Denver points out:
The idea of Checks and Balances suggests voting for shared governance, so no single party is in complete control and everyone's opinion is valued....Think it doesn't matter? Here's a quick quiz: What do the wild abandon of the 1920's and the 1929 stock crash, the beginning of the Great Depression, McCarthyism in the 1950's, the Vietnam war beginning in earnest, the rampant inflation of the late 1970's, and the War in Iraq all have in common?
Answer: All occurred during periods in US history when a single party held control of the Senate, the House, and the White House.
Consider that in the last 100 years, most wars have begun during periods of "single party rule" and most wars have ended during dual-party governance. The periods when no single party controlled all three are generally characterized more as "good" times: the late 1940's, the late 1950's, the time around the Bicentennial in the 1970's, and most of the 1990's.
This is intuitively logical. When only half the citizens have the power to push through their agenda, there is no power to bring the opinions of the other half into play, to reach agreements acceptable to all. When cooperation of both halves of society is needed, everybody wins.
This November here in Virginia, we will have a choice to make: one-party rule under the Republicans or checks and balances. Given the fact that the Virginia legislature is almost guaranteed -- unfortunately -- of remaining in Republican hands, the only sure way to achieve this is to elect Tim Kaine governor. In other words, if you worry about Virginia being controlled by one political party -- the Republicans -- with no counterweight to its power, then you should seriously consider voting for Tim Kaine whether you are a Democrat or not.
As Professor Burt concludes, "America is at its greatest when everyone contributes. This November, vote for Checks and Balances so everyone's voice will count." Preventing the tyranny of the majority through checks and balances: yet another great argument for electing Tim Kaine governor this fall.