The President convened a commission to consider "reforms" for the Supreme Court. This was a dreadful mistake, for two reasons.
First, this is simply a petty example of retaliation. It is a petty example of "tit for tat"--a disease for which currently we have no vaccine. Does anyone believe that if Republicans had not rammed through Barrett to replace Ginsburg literally days before the election that Democrats would be doing this now?
Republicans violated a tradition then, and Democrats now rush to retaliate. Republicans were wrong then and Democrats are wrong now. There can be a difference between doing some thing and doing the right thing. Remember. "Two wrongs don't make a right." "What goes around comes around."
The second observation is in fact a plea. Republicans then, and Democrats now, threaten the independence of the judiciary. Federalist 78 reminds us that the judiciary is "the least dangerous branch", because it " has neither force nor will, but only judgment". To be persuasive that judgment must be accepted as non partisan, apolitical. Why should we respect and obey Court decisions if they are rendered by partisan hacks?
Candor is required. Whether the Court upholds or overturns Roe v. Wade is of course important. But the independence of the judiciary is essential. One is an issue. The other is a principle on which our democracy depends.
I am Bob Evans, and that is my perspective.
