"Hate" is a dirty word

Three times this week I've heard about good legislation in the Kentucky General Assembly that's passed either the House or Senate but is bogged down in the other chamber because a particular lawmaker "hates" the legislator sponsoring it. And, yes, the word hate was used each time. We all know that Republicans and Democrats have philosophical differences, but this is something more.

The "something more" in this case means much less for Kentucky citizens and business. All three of these bills offer something very positive and deserve full consideration. However, because a certain bill is sponsored by a certain legislator, it's held up or considered "hands off" at the other end of the building. This is not how the process should work and smacks more of children fighting than how the people's business should be conducted.

Sure, hate among lawmakers has probably existed since the first Kentucky General Assembly met way back when. I've been bothered more lately, however, by the increasing polarity of the political process in D.C. and Frankfort. The middle ground is not tolerated by the fringe of either party and lawmakers known to understand the word compromise are now targeted by growing segments of their own party for stiff primary challenges.

I've always told my two sons, now age 12 and 14, to not use the word hate. I tell them it's a dirty word. It's a word that always struck me as being hopeless, perhaps without recourse. And now, this week I've been struck by how the word is being used to further describe the acrimony and partisanship that grips both political parties. And I'm increasingly being struck by how the people's business is left undone for dirty reasons. I hate that.