In the Early American Republic of blessed memory, such eminences as George Washington declined titles, much in use in England at the time. The moderns, as Zach Janowski demonstrates in “Raising Hale,” have no such compunctions. In the 36-member Senate, there are 36 titled officials. In the more modest House, “only two out of three members gets a fancy title” – and an extra stipend to boot. The House listing by dollar is here, and the Senate listing here.
Mr. Janowski unwittingly has presented a strong argument for a unicameral legislature. Such an organ of popular representation would be less titled, more broadly representative and more responsible to the sort of people Washington thought were virtuous, economical and modest.
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