They Aren't Candidates Anymore!
In regard to the current stalemate in our state government, one statement keeps coming from the Republican majority. "We are doing what the people who elected us want us to do." This is the crux of the problem. The newly elected Republicans are still thinking like candidates and have not made the transition to being elected officials.
When you are a candidate, you are very concerned with pleasing the voters and doing what they want; because you want their vote. After you get elected, your charge is to do what is good for everyone. Allegiance to certain groups and special interests must be balanced with doing what is good for every citizen. Rich, poor, young, old, working, retired, unemployed, disadvantaged-all of these citizens deserve fair treatment in your actions. An elected person must make decisions that favor all citizens of the state, not just those who elected him/her. Once elected you are a STATE representative or a STATE senator and must consider the whole state, not just your district.
Once you are elected you must take off your candidate hat and put on your governing hat. Candidates are concerned about their districts, but when you govern, you must consider your district in conjunction with all citizens of the state. end
posted by Judy D. Hanson @ 8:04 AM
8 Comments:
So you seem to be saying 'Say whatever is required to get elected' but after that go about your merry way. Isn't that lying to the public? Isn't that what gets govt's into trouble? You base your vitriol against Republicans but Democrats are just as guilty. Just look at the deficit/debt the FEDs have run up. I'm sure most Democrats campaigned against GW Bush on deficit spending but look what they did once elected. Bah Humbug!
You wrote "Once elected you are a STATE representative or a STATE senator and must consider the whole state, not just your district."
I wish elected US Reps and Sens thought the same way. Earmarks are a prime example. An earmark for your home state or district doesn't necessarily benefit ALL states. The late Sen Byrd is a prime example.
I did not say that elected officials should "go their merry way" after being elected. And I would not urge candidates to lie to the public. However, once elected, loyalties must be placed with the good of the whole. This may mean making decisions that are counter to promises made.
And therein lies the problem. Politicians make all kinds of promises to get elected, with voters thinking that some good or positive thing will happen. But most often the elected officials abandon those who got them there. They often will say that reality set it and I'm sorry but I won't do what I said I would. I admire TEA party folks who stick to their guns and stay loyal to those who elected them. It is sad when elected officials suddenly think only they know what is best.
There is much to be admired about being loyal. But, in my opinion, your last two sentences are the precise reason we have stalemate.
Our governmental system is set up so that it will bog down and nothing will get done unless there is compromise. Webster's defines compromise as "an adjustment of opposing principles, systems by modifying some aspects of each."
Our governmental system is not perfect and there are lots of places it can be improved, but it has served us well and I would rather live and deal with Minnesota's governmental system than any other state in our country.
Good discussion here. Interesting you should cite Webster's. Based upon Webster's definition you must be appalled at how the 111th US Congress went about passing The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare). You may recall how the DEMs locked out the REPs from making any input and how Congress had NO time to read/review the legislation before voting. Compromise was never entertained. Transparency was promised but not delivered. Citizens were promised they would have 72 hours to review legislation before a vote was taken but that promise was broken too. Speaker Pelosi famously said "We Must Pass The Health Care Bill So That We Can Find Out What’s In It". Another prime example of how not to enact legislation is the Stimulus bill. Passage can almost be likened to actions taken under a dictatorship. Yes, our government whether local, state, or federal is not perfect but when a majority party, be it either party, excludes the minority party in most or all aspects of governing I would find it difficult for anyone to defend those actions.
I am disappointed you appear to have chosen to suppress my last comment. Anyone reading your blogspot will have the impression you had the last word. Nevertheless, you have the benefit of my opposing view with regard to a candidate abandoning his/her campaign rhetoric after being elected. The candidate probably got elected because the views expressed coincided with the electorate. For example, if a candidate ran on no new taxes and then the first thing he does is sponsor a new revenue bill it makes the whole election process a sham. No wonder voters are upset. I would never vote for that candidate again. end
I do not think that suppressed comments. I do not log on every day. Too busy mowing lawn.
The only comments I choose not to publish are where people do not sign a name or obnoxious comments.
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