Bickering

Yahoo! Canada had an interesting headline/question today: Do politicians bicker too much?

My initial response was, "No. Ideally, we should elect people who will bicker on our behalf." Hence, Taxfighter Smith's anger against taxes did little for him around Presque Isle this fall. We want people who have proven action, people with the interests of the public and, in a perfect world, an interest in the greater good.

Then I remembered that we aren't living in an ideal world. The fact is, many of our politicians bicker for their self-preservation. Despite some personal feelings on parties supported by Rush Limbaugh (who is the poster child for self-preservation), this is really a trans-partisan problem. I think part of why Clinton and Obama have risen to the top of many lists is because they do both. I think both candidates have proven action in the government, much of which has supported the greater public (not my) opinion and has made an attempt at keeping the US on top globally. Still, they know how to play the game. A lot of their bickering is against other people, simply to remind everyone of how good they are.

Now, before I make this into more Clinton - Obama discussion, I'm going to broaden this. What politicians can we think of who have bickered in a good way? (I think of people like FDR, one of my favorites.) What about people who just bicker? What is the likelihood that we can get good bickering in the White House and national legislature in 2008?