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Opening Arguments

Another culture war

Gonna be a lot of turnover in the General Assembly this year. In the House, 12 Democrats and seven Republicans have decided not to seek re-election, and on the Senate side, two Republicans are retiring. The Indianapolis Star editorial board this this presents "an opportunity to reshape old discussions and perhaps change a culture, especially in the House, that has devolved into partisan bickering and gamesmanship."

The loss of experience, especially on fiscal issues with the retirements of Crawford and Espich, could hurt in the short term. But the opportunity to develop new talent also could bring fresh perspectives into a legislature where long terms of service among top leaders have become the norm.

The influx of new faces also is a chance to push reset on the partisan games that have undercut the legislature's credibility in recent years.

I think this is naive and simplistic (not that I have anything against that -- I've written a whole lot of naive and simplistic editorials over the years). Cultures change people more often than people change cultures. The "partisan bickering and gamesmanship" may cool off for a time while all the newbies learn the ropes, but it will soon heat back up. Politics is all about partisan differnces, and the divide in the country is so great these days (and therefore the divide in the people who represent the rest of us) that the best we can hope for (and ask for) is a minimum of overt displays of naked hostility.

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