The Power of a Podium

A 230-word piece in the Providence Journal nicely captures the good that disputatious writers like Edward Achorn and (to a much lesser extent... for now) us here at Anchor Rising can do:

[RI House Speaker William] Murphy had said he would seek an advisory opinion from the state Supreme Court, but said today that he has changed his mind.

"While I still believe there are merits to the legal questions involved in this issue, I have reached this decision to expedite the implementation of separation of powers and to honor the will of the people," he said.

Sen. Michael Lenihan, who plans to introduce legislation implementing the changes involved in separation of powers, said Murphy's decision was a surprise, but should help move the process along.

We, the people of Rhode Island, have a long, long way to go, but at least we've earned this glimmer of an indication that things can change — that things are changing already.