Posted on 05/09/2008 8:45:46 AM PDT by vmorgs
Anteiglesia is not a term with which todays politicians are particularly familiar. But, perhaps, they should be.
In the Spanish Basque country, in the Middle Ages, anteiglesia was the name given to the periodic meetings of the local townspeople who gathered in front of the church to robustly discuss the important issues of the day and vote the peoples will.
It was in some ways similar to the town meetings some politicians stage today but not really. At the ancient anteiglesia, what was said actually mattered.
This was brought to mind earlier this week when former House Speaker Newt Gingrich issued his Plea to Republicans listing the real changes the House GOP needs to make in order to avoid real disaster.
Mr. Gingrich is a smart man, and theres no doubt his wish list had merit. But, even before unveiling his list, the Speaker had one major suggestion that he obviously thought took precedent over all else. We know this because in his online version of the Plea, he boldfaced the suggestion and even went so far as to color it blue.
It read: House Republicans Should Call an Emergency, Members-Only Conference.
And thats brings up a problem. A problem that might be resolved through the ancient practice of anteiglesia.
Specifically, the Speaker suggested that the House Republicans should hold an emergency members-only meeting. At the meeting, they should post this stark choice: Real change or certain defeat.
If a majority of the House Republicans vote for real change, the Speaker continued, they should instruct Republican leader John Boehner and his team come back with a new plan by he Wednesday before the Memorial Day recess.
Well, now, the truth of the matter is that the last thing any group of politicians in Washington needs is another closed-door, members-only meeting where they conjure up stark choices and come back with a new plan -- whether its before the Memorial Day recess, or after the Twelfth of Never.
Americans for Limited Government is clearly sympathetic to the notion that Republicans need to get their act together, as was recently highlighted in the piece Endgame. And we are 100 percent in agreement that urgency is of the essence.
But, maybe just maybe its time for the GOP to forget about yet another members-only meeting (which is how they got themselves into this mess in the first place). And instead, perhaps borrowing a page from the Medieval Basque townsfolk they might want to actually invite in the America people.
Instead of cloistering themselves yet again in the closeted confines of some secluded inner sanctum, perhaps the Republican members of the House might want to throw open the doors to the American people -- and have a real, honest-to-goodness, no-holds-barred National Dialogue.
Thats right, invite in the real experts in virtually every field from across the country to honestly, openly, candidly discuss the deepening problems that are besetting the country. Listen (dont talk!) to the real experts from the fields of health care, energy, currency, taxes, budget reform, national security and yes, even raising a happy, healthy family in modern American society.
And instead of colluding in secret and guarding the door against outside intruders, throw open the doors to every American who cares to listen, watch, or take an active part. Now, as never before, the Internet provides the way. Its time for the politicians to show the will.
If the new National Dialogue takes a week, so be it. If it occasionally turns a little raucous, all the better (forget the arrant pomposity of traditional congressional show hearings welcome in a little sound and fury, signifying something). And, if it forces the politicians to finally start actually listening to the folks with whom they have long since lost touch well, finish it up with a rousing cheer and get ready for next years National Dialogue II.
No, anteiglesia may not be a word with which todays politicians are familiar. But, it should be particularly if they want to avoid real disaster.
ALG CTA: We encourage journalists across the nation to urge their audiences to contact House Minority Leader John Boehner at (202)225-6205 to express their support for an emergency conference. And also stipulate that they do not want Republicans to just talk to each other, but rather they want them to talk to experts, and to the people.
How about the Political class, from Newt on down, try listening to their own advice.
Instead of mindlessly repeating the same absurities they have been screaming since the 1970s (Ride the Bus, turn down the thermonstate, make do with less, investigate the Oil Companies) how about they sit down, shut up, and try listening to what the people have been telling them for the last 30 years.
WE WANT TO DEVELOP ALL OUR OWN ENERGY SOURCES! Quit being the paid sluts of the wacko green extremists. We are tired of being held hostage by OPEC!
How about the federal government talking about minding their own business and letting Americans handle their own lives.
Newt - maybe you should “sit down” with Nancy Pelosi, and lecture us all on anti-market Socialist policies that need to be implemented upon working people at their expense. So, you’ve got yours, and you want us peasants to suffer from econoimic principles based upon a HOAX? What a fruit loop! Does Newt suffer from Syphilis? His behavior is manic, and his association with Pelosi is nothing short of DERANGED! (Yes, I’m shouting!)
Agree with you completely.
read later
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