The Al Franken Solution: a Modest Proposal

   In my not-all-that-humble opinion, Al Franken should not have resigned. While I didn’t make a survey nor establish a ranking of the severity of sins, his seem to me near the bottom end of the recently revealed offenses—probably not much worse than those to be found in fraternities of Ivy League colleges.

  But while he has not yet resigned, he is irrevocably committed to do so. Any day now he will formally be leaving the Senate.

   Then what? For one thing, he’ll make much more money at whatever he takes up. I am sure that more than one attractive offer is now to be found on his desk.

   Maybe he will be happy doing what comes next, especially since it will surely include opportunities to write, so he will continue to make his opinions known. Very possibly, he will find the forthcoming stage of his life quite satisfying.

   But maybe not: being a Senator is special and almost surely addictive. This is where my proposal comes in, almost as radical (not quite!) as Jonathan Swift’s, the person who long ago coined the phrase Modest Proposal—look it up.

   Al Franken should declare himself to be a candidate to succeed himself as Senator from Minnesota.

   Franken would of course be taking a big risk. That bet is High Risk-High Gain. But it fits in with his prior career and with his personality. Go do it, Al!