The same incumbents get re-elected every year even if they are doing a lousy job. It is an enigma worth viewing and one that needs a solution
Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net, to Mr. Stern at pstern@austin.rr.com, or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story
Note: When it comes to elections and candidates, some of us may suffer from SOBS (Same-Old Burnout Syndrome). Unfortunately, the symptoms are low interest and low turnout at otherwise crucial elections. Because of it, bad apples often get elected that have no business in public office. Sometimes we get lucky. The upcoming March 2 primary is one of those crucial elections. Time to re-energize, get informed and have some fun. There are a few gems among the pile of candidates running, and some real duds. Here's a link to the Hays County Elections Office with candidate information that can get you started: http://www.elections.co.hays.tx.us/CandidateOfficeholdersbrInformation/tabid/54/Default.aspx
By Peter Stern
Guest Commentary
November elections and re-elections are less than one year away. The incumbents and candidates are squaring off, starting to play political hardball. History repeats itself and no one seems to learn any lessons from it.The economy still is a mess at the national and state levels, but there is no shortage of "Elmer Gantry" types promising rain if your land is parched, money if your wallet is filled with cob webs and a much better life if you need one. Heck, most of us do need a better life.
The same old, same old is that we are being offered empty promises.
I am glad to see the "juices" flowing around the nation, even though a lot of it is misplaced anger and arrogance. Many people are getting more agitated and involved. Many want that better life, but few know how to get there. Many are unhappy with our legislators, but there are no clear answers on how to reform our Congress. Also, there are few solutions to cleaning house on the state and local levels.
An ancient Latin saying exclaims: "Belua multorum es capitum" – The people are a many-headed beast, and nowhere is it observed better than in the political arena and especially during election time. The same incumbents get re-elected every year even if they are doing a lousy job. It is an enigma worth viewing and one that needs a solution.
Those who run consistently are wealthy and have special interests. Being wealthy with special interests is one thing, using that wealth and power continuously against the best interests of the community and majority of people is the problem and that's exactly what many career politicians do.
We all see this at the national, state and local levels.
I am a Republican; however, I have always distrusted and disliked this sort of political maneuvering. In particular, I dislike a person professing to belong to one party when in reality, they have a different focus and action plan. It occurs too frequently with Democrats AND Republicans. On the national level, it is like Senator Joe Lieberman, another parasite out for his own good. Much as an unethical used car salesman, he will say and promise one thing, yet will change his story depending on who is listening.
In Texas at the state level, Representative Patrick Rose and at the local level Hays County Commissioner Jeff Barton act with the same longtime practice of deception. They profess to be Democrats and run under that party umbrella, but their voting history and actions show they are NOT Democrats. Historically their actions and voting are as Texas Republicans. However, year after year they get re-elected.
The same old, same old is that this is occurring throughout the nation at all levels of government. The "many-headed beast" still re-elects the deadwood incumbents.
It is the deception by these people and how they do so little for the community good that will have me voting for their opponents. I will vote for the candidates opposing Governor Rick Perry, Patrick Rose, Jeff Barton and others like them.
They are like sharks in a feeding frenzy. They are natural in their habitat, but you don't want to be in their vicinity when they are feeding and doing what comes naturally to them.
They continue to do what they do because we permit it.
I also heard that former Representative Rick Green is running for some office again. Here's the guy who got so angry and frustrated and then physically attacked Patrick Rose. The guy should be in jail, but he's out running for political power again.
"Birds of a feather flock together." Get ready for the same old, same old.
Peter Stern, a former director of information services, university professor and public school administrator, is a disabled Vietnam veteran who lives in Driftwood, TX.
8 comments:
Peter Stern always offers a great analysis of a problem but generally offers no tangible solutions. In this case, let me offer one simple sweeping solution that most Americans are probably not ready for or smart enough to implement.
America needs a viable and moderated third party - one that incorporates the best of the existing parties based on the following: 1) the human compassion and general intelligence of liberals; 2) the old guard free markets, small business-focused economic theory of the Republican Party, 3) the libertarian philosophy of no government intrusion in our personal lives -- and a healthy distaste for imperialist, military adventures that are too costly and unnecessarily kill too many Americans.
Oh yes, the new Party would completely eschew corporate socialism (government bailouts of “too big to jail” companies and corporate tax giveaways) and politicians could only raise campaign money from individuals (no PAC or corporate money).
Now, I know many of you conservatives will get pissed off at the "general intelligence of the liberals" line. But believe me I love it when I find smart conservatives (like Peter Stern), the ones that have a mind of their own and are not a walking talking point for Russ Limbaugh or the RNC. But recently I have seen the Republican Party – usually considered the party of conservatives - get real stupid with Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, et al. Please, Republicans, put people out in the political limelight that are smart -- and compassionate to your fellow man. Our country needs it.
Yes, liberals got duped by the "yes we can" messiah Obama, but not nearly as much as conservatives got screwed by American royalty retard George W. Bush and his warlord Dick Cheney. When is left and right going to quit blaming each other and start seeing the real truth – we are both getting ripped off by our own parties. Are we just to stubborn or stupid to admit it?
Real change is in the air. But is America, Texas, or Hays County ready for it? If we end up putting the same failed Republicans under Bush back into Congress this year (or into the Presidency in 2012), we will just move further down the path of American decline.
And Texas would be wise to NOT re-elect plantation administrator Rick Perry or even corporate robot Kay Bailey. Locally, I will do as I always do, vote against the incumbents.
How long -- if not already --- will it take "a third party" to become as corrupt and unethical as the current big two?
Anyway, a third party will not overtake and/or overshadow the current two for many years to come, if ever.
As long as the power, greedy elite manage our nation a third party "of the people" hasn't a chance.
Maybe Mr. Stern doesn't always offer "tangible solutions" because there aren't any, or maybe because he wants people to think and decide for themselves?
Voting out incumbents isn't going to work either because those who go into politics all too often are of the same breed.
And sometimes even if they do have honorable intentions initially they become "corrupted" during their term(s).
Anon 1 & 2, so do we just do nothing and keep falling further into the political abyss? Or do the smart cynics simply stop voting and let the corrupt organize the remaining voters to get even more control? Put out some of your ideas for change. Now is the time.
Limits on campaign contributions is a start.
Voting out incumbents and getting in new blood is a start.
The people voting does not improve anything because those in power work from another angle.
Case in point:
Two years ago when the Hays County Road Bond package went to the voters it was shut down.
Rep. Patrick Rose along with Commissioners Jeff Barton and Will Conley pushed like hell to get another proposal out to the people within the next year.
Commissioners appointed pseudo-citizens to come up with ideas and a proposal. They were "pseudo" because we all knew that each commissioner appointed whoever they wanted to be on the committee.
Anyway, this time the road bond package was approved even though it is an extravagant package whose actual need is questionable.
So, voting doesn't really mean that much. Less than 5 percent get out there to vote each election.
The people aren't taken very seriously.
Our commissioners are not working in the best interests of everyday people.
What do you think it will take to get them to do so?
To me its simple, make a law that no incumbent can ever run for re-election. They would only be able to serve one term and then go home and stay there. I would apply that to all elected offices. Now what is wrong with that?
The problem is the longer they stay in office the more dangerous they become. Examples; Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Rick Perry, and you can add your own bad actors.
Oh yea, change the US Constitution to just one line; "Congress shall make no law." period.
Expecting career politicians to solve the problems and needs of the middle class and poor is asking too much, as politicians in the long run are more concerned about getting re-elected and pleasing the money people who will keep them there.
Term limits will never be legislated because it would require the same politicians that we are limiting to pass the legislation (some states can pass a citizen referendum on term limits).
So, at the local and county level, at least, each party or parties need to agree and decide that re-electing incumbents is almost always a bad move. Make sure that the incumbent is voted out in the primary. Politicians need to be treated like owning a stock. When owning a company stock, it is unwise to become enamored with the company. If you do, you will lose money when the company management becomes corrupted or the product is no longer profitable. Politicians are like owning stock; they almost always go sour or eventually get too big and out of touch with their "customers". Sell the "stock" after two or four years.
At the state and federal level, voters must attack the source of the political corruption: corporate money. In addition to always trying to vote out the incumbent at the end of their term, voters must use their consumer power and boycott the companies that buy the politicians - which is almost all the large companies. Hence, buy local and regional as much as possible - and don't shop at the big box retailers and move all your money to credit unions and locally run banks. And cut back on your overpriced cable and telephone services. Most of the content on TV is crap anyway. If even 25% of the country acted on these ideas, it would have a big effect on the nation as a whole.
But such a movement can't go the way of the Tea Party movement, which the corrupt big money Republicans are using as their national fund-raising effort for failed Bush Republicans and right wing extremists who see the money. Obama used a similar grsssroots voting campaign and then once elected, sold out to the Wall Street bankers and, yes, insurance companies.
Follow the money and you will see the true beneficiaries of the political process. Attack the corrupting money with self-discipline and frugality. It works.
Get rid of incumbents. Since they will not pass laws to restrict time limitations on these positions, we need to vote them out.
On the local level, we could start by voting-in candidates who oppose incumbent officicals, e.g., Sen. Jeff Wentworth [unfortunately no one is running against him], Rep. Patrick Rose [he is useless to residents], Hays County Commissioners Jeff Barton, Will Conley, Debbie Ingalsbe and Karen Ford. Judge Liz Sumter seems to be the only one who, albeit periodically, strives to do some good for the community.
These people do little for the community they are supposed to serve and they spend tax dollars constantly as though there is an infinite supply.
So, my advice --- you can take it or leave it --- is to vote them out and continue to replace them.
It's the only way for us to control some of the ongoing political transgressions incumbent perpetrate against the community.
Post a Comment