An open secret
I’m sitting in a rather cramped café in the basement of the Hart Senate office building. It has all the ambiance of an airport Starbucks, although the patrons are rather better dressed: surrounding me are men and women with suits, solemnly talking.
I am on Capitol Hill for a visit with the Society for Conservation Biology, trying to strengthen the role of science in environmental policymaking. It is the first time I’ve really delved into the odd self-contained world of Capitol Hill office building. There are numerous café, restaurants, an Alexander Calder sculpture, and miles of marble, connected by a maze of tunnel. Everywhere there are signs reminding people that certain elevators, or hallways, or cash registers are limited only to “members” or their staff. Everywhere there are folks whispering the names of Senators or Representatives, but seldom is a politician actually seen.
Despite the secrecy, it is a remarkably open system. One could never just walk in without appointment to the headquarters of IBM or GM. But almost anyone can walk through the metal detectors and enter this other world. Moreover, one can really walk into the offices of your Congressman and leave them information on an issue (whether it actually influences what they do is much more doubtful). America should take pride in having such an open system, despite the security challenges I’m sure it poses.
I am on Capitol Hill for a visit with the Society for Conservation Biology, trying to strengthen the role of science in environmental policymaking. It is the first time I’ve really delved into the odd self-contained world of Capitol Hill office building. There are numerous café, restaurants, an Alexander Calder sculpture, and miles of marble, connected by a maze of tunnel. Everywhere there are signs reminding people that certain elevators, or hallways, or cash registers are limited only to “members” or their staff. Everywhere there are folks whispering the names of Senators or Representatives, but seldom is a politician actually seen.
Despite the secrecy, it is a remarkably open system. One could never just walk in without appointment to the headquarters of IBM or GM. But almost anyone can walk through the metal detectors and enter this other world. Moreover, one can really walk into the offices of your Congressman and leave them information on an issue (whether it actually influences what they do is much more doubtful). America should take pride in having such an open system, despite the security challenges I’m sure it poses.
