Computers In The Senate

As they begin a new session, members of the United States Senate are embroiled in a controversy over, of all things, laptop computers.

Several techno-savvy Senators want to bring their laptops onto the Senate floor, where no writing instrument more intrusive than a pen or pencil has ever been seen, and use them for taking notes or the retrieval of pertinent information. Others say laptops would be distracting at best, and, at worst, in the words of Senator Robert G. Torricelli of New Jersey, "lead to staff instructions on voting and the scripting of all remarks."

There are Democrats and Republicans on both sides of the laptop fence, proving once again that foolishness knows no political bounds.

Bring on the laptops, or any other contrivance that will help make our Senators more efficient and better informed.