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PaperclipPerfector  16d ago (text post)   21148 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of May 25, 2026

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It used to be that members of congress lived in Washington full time, now they are expected to fly home every weekend. But not all members of congress live in cities like NYC or LA with their multiple airports.

"House leaders subsequently have built more hoe time into the congressional calendar."

That was pretty funny.

"But in late 1994, when Republicans took control of the House for the first time in 40 years, incoming Speaker Newt Gingrich encouraged his party's members to leave their families in their districts, to emphasize their independence from Washington and their roots among constituents."

I sort of wonder if this was a simple case of pure cynicism or an inability to picture the long-term adverse consequences of this decision, which should not characterize a self-proclaimed conservative. Chesterton's fence and all that.

I sort of wonder if this was a simple case of pure cynicism or an inability to picture the long-term adverse consequences of this decision, which should not characterize a self-proclaimed conservative. Chesterton's fence and all that.

As @Thoroughlygruntled already pointed out, there is an ideological belief that drives these decisions. In a sense, it is good that elected officials are more connected to their constituents instead of being charmed or adapted into the elites. But yes lots are lost too. I can't help but be reminded of this question on /r/AskHistorians about "I'm a Victorian-era housewife whose husband is, say, a doctor. What's my usual day like?" and here is an answer, bolded mine:

After lunch, it was time for "morning calls", by or to friends for pleasure and acquaintances for courtesy, after having dined at their house or something like that. While taking calls, a woman was not supposed to be really engaged in reading, drawing, or playing music, but she could quietly continue doing some embroidery. Morning calls would go on until dinner, and evening calls could take place afterward (although Mrs Beeton also recommends evenings at home, spent with needlework, chess/backgammon, or reading aloud). It's difficult to classify calls as leisure or work - they were a necessary part of cultivating and maintaining acquaintances. Being a moral example to the servants and children was also seen as a kind of constant occupation, and is one of the societal pressures you'd face.

It hasn't been mentioned elsewhere but I'm sure the loss of this parallel network of spouses and acquaintances also reduces the random chances of lawmakers becoming acquainted and find common grounds in which they can then trade favors or collaborate on.

Of course it was Gingrich.

The more I learn about 90s politics, the more I feel like the 2010s were overdetermined.

It was an attempt to weaken the power of the DC cocktail party circuit to influence Republican Congressmen into betraying the small town/rural values of their constituents. No more socializing with urban socialists.

I see. I'm also guessing that Gingrich was concerned about the DC cocktail party circuit influencing the Congressmen's children and wives. Then again, maybe he wasn't thinking that ahead.

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