I have contended for a long time that things are named for what they are not. This is why developers will name a street of a new subdivision where there are no trees “Shady Lane,” and this is why the street on the other side of the hill from the lake is named “Lakeview Way.” The Humane Society is where they gas dogs and cats, and I guess we can all wonder about the Justice Department.
I have recently discovered that my unfortunately cynical views apply even to our national political parties. The Democratic Party has some 20 percent of its delegates appointed, instead of elected democratically, so they can save us from the full responsibility of just voting-in a candidate for public office.
This article appears in Jun 5-12, 2008.