Centerfield

Bananization

Former Labor Secretary Bob Reich writes that we're turning into a banana republic

One of the things that distinguishes advanced democracies from banana republics is that winners and losers accept the results of elections. Losing candidates and parties don't initiate coups. Winners don't kill off the losers and their supporters. The winning party has an opportunity to govern. Both sides go back to their respective corners -- winners take office, losers take other jobs -- and wait until the next election to do battle again.

Reich points to the Clinton Impeachment, the Florida shenanigans in 2000, and now the California recall as evidence of bananization. And of course, the Republicans are responsible.

I would point to two more case where traditions and precedents have been broken in order to gain political advantage: the last minute substitution of Frank Lautenberg for Robert Toricelli in the New Jersey senate race when it was clear that the latter was going to lose, and the attempt by Republicans to redistrict in Texas for the second time in a decade.

So the Democrats are not above banana ethics, though as one expects of a partisan like Reich, only the sins of his opponents come to mind. It does seem to me, however, that Reich is correct in saying that the Republicans have lately been more aggressive in exploiting legal technicalities. Expect the Democrats to follow.

Posted by rickheller at August 31, 2003 10:03 AM