Silver Bullets

March 29, 2006

Voters: Use Your Silver Bullets

They may go in honest, but they come out as crooks. Why do we so often believe that politicians are dishonest? Can it be their relentless pursuit of power, re-election and gluttony for our tax dollars?

Citizens seldom understand the environment and circumstances elected officials must work through. Whether it is a city council, county commission or the state legislature a culture of power, ego and compromise exists. It is nearly impossible for Average Joe to comprehend that a guy he believed in could fail to act on principle alone. All the pressures come to bear and the best intentioned official will be unable to make Average Joe understand the game.
If voters wanted to watch a game, Monday Night Football is on television! We expect and deserve more from those we trust to represent us in government!

Party Leadership is one pressure point. A freshman representative or senator is expected to follow like sheep when the Leadership designates a course. The new kid cannot openly challenge the old guard without seeing their own efforts thwarted in committee (if their bill even gets that far). Another expectation is to show proper respect for tenured officials. Never vote against a senior member of your delegation, it is just not proper.

Among county commissioners there is a Go-Along Rule. Each commissioner is expected to support whatever a colleague may desire for that other district. That is how to gain the colleague’s support on your own projects. The same Rule applies to public disagreement with “stated policy,” whatever the majority voting bloc decides that may be. In a sense there is a certain honor among thieves principle at work.

Both of these scenarios describe the transformation that occurs after getting elected. In a culture bent on self preservation and personal ego, the “honest candidate” soon begins to look and act like the old political hacks we have grown to distrust. It is not easy to know how, or when, to compromise and still maintain core principles that got you elected. It seems impossible to feed the ego and agenda of a colleague (or a party) while truly representing the voters. A balance can be found, but there are few silver bullets and a strategy must be used.

What strategy can work against money from special interests, party leadership or a culture of corruption? Only one: Remember that voters elect officials to serve the public interest. Stay in contact with the constituents. Follow the principles you preached while campaigning. When the vampires surround the principled official, he can use one silver bullet: the press. Another silver bullet is public outcry. Another silver bullet is purity of heart.

This strategy may sound naïve and simplistic. But it is exactly what voters expect when they cast their ballots. Nobody ever got elected by swearing allegiance to party leadership or special interests. It is a fact that incumbents have a high likelihood of getting re-elected, barring a scandal or serious grass-roots opposition. If they just do the job we hired them for, we will continue to elect them. It is reasonable to expect honest, open and diligent representation right from the start!

Voters also have a few silver bullets: word of mouth, blogs, activist groups, and the news media. When we cast our votes for county commissioners, state representatives and senators, even for governor, think about who they have served. Think about who they will serve if they get your vote. Never forget they really do work for us, and we can fire them! Every member of the Georgia House of Representatives is up for re-election this year. Henry District 4 and District 5 commission seats are also on the ballot. Use your silver bullets.