Time for Kennedy to go

[Note from Z: Hey, look! My coauthor A is back!]

Ted Kennedy has, without doubt, had a long and influential career in the US Senate. While I’m not far enough to the left to idolize him in the way that some do, there is little question that our country is better off because he served. He has been an excellent senator. However, as he has struggled with illness recently, I have increasingly wondered whether it was wise for him to remain in his seat.  With his most recent difficulties, my mind has been made up. The responsible thing for Senator Kennedy to do now would be to resign his seat.

I see little reason for him to stay. He is fighting serious health problems, and unable to put the time and focus on his work that should be expected of a senator. I could of course understand someone pushing to stay when they know their replacement will have a different political stance. If you think certain policies are what are best for the country, then just keeping a vote in the Senate for those policies is very important. Kennedy, though, is from Massachusetts, a state with a Democratic governor who will appoint someone with very similar stances, and a state with no shortage of qualified Democrats to consider for the position. That person will continue to hold the seat easily in future elections. There really seems to me to be little reason for him to stay other than a desire to be personally involved in the decisions. That urge is of course totally understandable, but I think it would be appropriate if at this point, when a massive workload is being dumped on Congress, Senator Kennedy let someone else step in and take up the torch.

Kennedy hasn’t even been able to vote in the Senate recently. If he is unable to vote, there is no doubt that he is also unable to thoroughly research and understand whatever decisions he does make, and unable to try to influence other senators, participate in negotiations, and in general do his job. Naturally, it’s hard to push for someone who has serious health problems to resign. Everyone supports him personally and wishes him well with his illness. Being a senator is not a normal job, though, and you have an obligation to put your constituents above yourself. If an action is good for your constituents, you should do it, even if it’s unfair to you. This is one of those things, and it’s time for Kennedy to move on.

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February 15, 2009 · Written by
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Comments

One Response to “Time for Kennedy to go”

  1. Ted Identicon Icon Ted on February 16th, 2009 4:32 pm

    Senator Kennedy has worked hard on universal health care coverage his entire senate career, and it was a key platform in his presidential run in 1980. I would hate to see him leave the Senate, or the earth, until this noble goal is accomplished. I hope we are on the cusp of accomplishing this.

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