tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013768528807903362.post6347613842712923866..comments2023-05-04T08:38:45.160-07:00Comments on Gridlock: Can Our System Address America’s Big Problems?: Would Renaming Violence Against Woman Act Decrease Gridlock?karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11242198015369699322noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013768528807903362.post-62922971093018479132012-04-18T22:26:01.853-07:002012-04-18T22:26:01.853-07:00I would disagree with the suggestion that a differ...I would disagree with the suggestion that a different "naming" procedure may help reduce gridlock in Congress. Strong titles create two outcomes. First, I think it may sway those on the fence about a bill to a favorable position. Second, a strong title like "The Violence Against Women Act" makes complaints, like spending and expansionary policy implications, seem like little more than petty, misguided arguments. At the end of the day, someone must be either "for" or "against" this language, and they will have to deal with the election repercussions of that statement. This is only adding fuel to the fire of the media propelled Republican "War on Women." Republicans will have to begin making decisions on whether to pass bills like these, thereby decreasing gridlock, or live with trailing the Democrats by 18% for women voters.Esosa Osahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07930379196052539258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013768528807903362.post-25316071075507558102012-04-18T20:26:37.713-07:002012-04-18T20:26:37.713-07:00I agree with Nikki in the problem is not the name ...I agree with Nikki in the problem is not the name of the bill. The Violence Against Women Act was so easily passed in 1994 because it wasn't controversial. Fast forward to today's political climate, add in a few amendments expanding the rights of immigrants and homosexuals, and you have a recipe for a dead bill. I like the suggestion that we should outline rules and procedure to encourage more narrowly focused bills. At least then, the important legislation in bills like the Violence Against Women Act, won't have to suffer the consequences of political stagnation.Allison Rhynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01139032977613764908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013768528807903362.post-4712428749469767942012-04-18T17:46:11.879-07:002012-04-18T17:46:11.879-07:00Bill names are such a great place to begin the stu...Bill names are such a great place to begin the study of framing and general political heuristics. This isn't only an issue for Republicans opposing the Violence Against Women Act. Think of No Child Left Behind - even Democrats couldn't support "leaving children behind".<br /><br />If the problem is that the bill is *too broad* for its name, the problem isn't naming, per se - I think perhaps we would benefit from rules of procedure that encourage narrower focused bills. Maybe we should introduce the immigration-related parts of the VaWA as different bills, so that we can avoid confusing issues. On the other hand, one could argue that bigger omnibus-type bills encourage efficient legislation and compromise because politicians have to abandon certain projects in order to get others passed.Nikki Shafferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03213213611855831315noreply@blogger.com