re:  "Get it done", by David J. Maschek
In his letter titled "Get it done" in Wednesday's Chronicle, Mr. David Maschek praises the intellectual diversity of the Democrats and criticizes the Republicans for "speak[ing] with one voice" — implying a lack of intellectual diversity.

We have a two-party system in the US, so both parties are by definition coalitions of various interests. Whichever party in the minority has an incentive to stick together against a common opponent, whereas once majority status is attained, each of the coalition groups seeks action on a more specific agenda. This is the case regardless of which party finds itself in the majority or minority. 

It seems rather amusing, then, that whenever a party changeover occurs inevitably the new majority party and its adherents criticize (typically with lofty self-righteousness) the new minority party's "lockstep" voting against the majority's agenda while praising their own ideological diversity. Both are nothing more than a reasonable reaction to the incentives that are endemic to the two-party system.

So relax, Mr. Maschek:  the next time the Democrats find themselves in the role of the loyal opposition, they'll once again morph into a more singular voice, and, when in the majority, the various Republican coalitions will realize once again that they can't stand each other — and will criticize the Democrats for a lack of diversity of opinion.

Sincerely,
Dave Smith
Houston, TX