Loyal Opposition?

On the Student Assemblog, SA's quasi-official blog, Nathan Bruschi '10 shares his plan to create a devil's advocate in the Assembly, where somebody would be designated to argue against legislation. Bruschi's proposal was drafted after a conversation with Travis Green, the incoming student body president. I like that Bruschi and Green are thinking outside the box, but I don't think it's a good idea. Student Assembly isn't a debaters' club. I like when bills are debated on the floor – it's important to give them scrutiny – but opposition should be real, not some act. A combative Assembly is not just "drama," it's good for democracy – creating a marketplace of ideas. But fake opposition is fake opposition; it rings false and is insincere. Not every piece of legislation needs to be debated. Sometimes it's just important to get things done.