Opinion in Brief

VCU

Stop and go

A long-overdue measure that is sure to increase the safety of students crossing at the intersection of Franklin and Shafer streets, is the new traffic light installed last week to give drivers and pedestrians the instructions they need to avoid running into each other – assuming people know how to follow directions, that is.

In an e-mail sent to VCU students Friday, Paul Timmreck, senior vice president for finance and administration, said that VCU Police “observed a tendency of some motorists to speed up at the beginning of the 900 West Franklin Street block in an effort to get through the new traffic light before it changes,” and that some drivers may even run the light entirely.

How about synchronizing the new light with the existing light at the 900 block of Franklin Street and Harrison? If the new light turned red after green-light traffic from Harrison could clear the intersection, pedestrians could cross safely, and drivers could be confident that they wouldn’t have to speed up to make the light.

If that fails, red-light cameras could do the trick.

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Richmond

Sense of decency

“Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”

Those words, 50 years later, are universally recognized as the downfall of then-Sen. Joseph McCarthy, R-Wis., who was ultimately censured by the Senate for his abuses in investigating the threat posed by communism during the Cold War.

Today, however, the government could use a sense of decency of its own when it comes to censorship. A McCarthy-like atmosphere has invaded the world of broadcasting since the Federal Communications Commission has become more active in fining broadcasters for what it views as indecent material.

Because the FCC’s enforcement is so heavy-handed and its rules so vague, local ABC affiliate WRIC-TV 8 – along with 64 other affiliates nationwide – felt they had to cancel a Veterans Day showing of “Saving Private Ryan” to avoid drawing the wrath of the commission.

Meanwhile, erectile dysfunction continues to dominate ads on the airwaves, and Howard Stern is moving to satellite radio.

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Nation/World

Everything in moderation

In a small victory of reason Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee decided to back incoming chairman Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., a pro-choice moderate who has promised to bring President Bush’s judicial nominees to a “quick vote” in the committee, regardless of their positions on the controversial subject of abortion.

Specter stirred up controversy – especially among the cultural conservative community – when he suggested that Republicans may have trouble confirming anti-abortion nominees because of Democratic opposition.

Specter has since repented for his sin of injecting a little bit of realism into the political debate, and now we can all be grateful that everything is back to normal.

Changing with the times

In 1994, when Republicans first won a majority in Congress after years of Democratic control, they made a “Contract with America” that we can now safely say has been broken. After raising the nation’s debt ceiling by $800 billion to $8 trillion Friday, the GOP has all but abandoned the idea of a balanced budget.

Gone, too, is the rule Republicans imposed on themselves to require members of its leadership to step aside if ever indicted for any criminal charge. With House Majority Leader Rep. Tom Delay, R-Texas feeling the heat after three of his campaign aides have been indicted on campaign finance violations, his party acted quickly to prevent enforcement of its own rules.

Republicans also want to eliminate the rule that allowed Democrats to block some of Bush’s more controversial judicial nominees during his first term, as well as change long-standing Senate rules to be able to appoint powerful committee chairmanships on the basis of partisan loyalty rather than length of time served in the Senate.

What was it that was once said about absolute power?