Under the Palaver Tree

With the Buffett Rule and Palaver Trees, I think the world would be a much better place.

The Senate blocked a measure Monday that would allow open debate of the affectionately dubbed Buffett Rule, which would require the super-rich to pay a minimum tax rate of 30 percent. It came down to the party lines. The Democrats were just nine votes short of the 60 they needed to move the measure forward.

These days, it seems like congress can’t do anything without bickering. Each side is so busy ensuring its place and gearing up for the next election that the important issues they should be discussing are overshadowed by each side’s attempt to get one over on the other. They’re like children in the sandbox, kicking up dust and playing tug of war with their favorite toy. But Mommy never comes to the rescue like in real life.

If we forced the members of congress to sit under the Palaver Tree to discuss issues like higher tax rates for the rich, they might just come to a consensus. They would have to, or we wouldn’t allow them to leave that spot. We should amend the Constitution already because this system doesn’t seem to be working out so well. Each member of the community would be represented under the tree – from the super-rich to the super-super-rich to the dirt poor – so no perspective was excluded. The end product of the discussion under the tree would be harmony amongst all in attendance, not some arbitrary, alienated version of the truth (whatever that is). The goal would be a consensus upon which all could agree, and it would not matter how long it would take to reach that consensus. Congress wouldn’t be concerned with some looming election; it would be concerned with what’s right in front of it. For once.