Wednesday, January 8, 2003

In a time when politicians appear to be concerned only with winning votes, not with statesmanship or courage, the citizens must certainly be saying, "Who can we trust?"

One of our fatal flaws as human beings is that it is exceedingly difficult to see beyond self and to address the needs of others. This flaw goes back to the beginning of recorded history when God called down to Cain after he had slain his brother. Cain came back with the illustrious question (Genesis 4:9), "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Indeed, political observers often watch in dismay as the politicians and the electorate muddle along in utter nonsense. Walter Lippmann said it this way, "With exceptions so rare they are regarded as miracles of nature, successful democratic politicians are insecure and intimidated men. They advance politically only as they placate, appease, bribe, seduce, bamboozle, or otherwise manage to manipulate the demanding threatening elements in their constituencies. The decisive consideration is not whether the proposition is good but whether the active-talking constituents like it immediately" (Essays in Public Philosophy, 1955). Please note that Lippmann is referring to "democratic" as a form of government and not as a political party.

All jurisdictions have their "demanding threatening elements." On many issues, the elected officials become vulnerable and then exhausted which is followed by placation.

If a person is making a stand on behalf of a broad range of citizens who are not affiliated with an established organization, he/she is called an activist. While the person representing an organization where some people profit off of government decisions or have committed wrongdoings against the citizens are lauded by their comrades. Unfortunately, it is the engines of the elite organizations that normally fund political campaigns and not the broad range of nonaffiliated citizens.

All professions face difficult decisions but elected officials have their decisions weighed in the public forum. I cannot tell you how many people, after reading the newspaper, have told me that they would not change places with me for anything. I refuse to allow the criticism from special interests groups to blur my focus. My philosophy is to stick to your principles and protect your constituents.

Sticking to your principles can be risky business in elected office as you will most certainly be whacked upon the head for not going along with the "demanding threatening elements" that bear their teeth and growl in an effort to intimidate. It is so much easier to abandon your principles.

Political writer Frank R. Kent puts it this way, "Probably the most important single accomplishment for the politically ambitious is the fine art of seeming to say something without doing so ... The important thing is not be on the right side of the current issue but on the popular side ... regardless of your own convictions or of the facts. This business of getting the votes is a severely practical one into which matters of morality, of right and wrong, should not be allowed to intrude" (Political Behavior, 1928).

I have been told by some concerned citizens that recall petitions are circulating about our city courtesy of our tennis center special interest. This does not surprise me as desperate people will resort to desperate measures.

Should we compromise our principles? There are certainly a lot of people that will demand that you do so when it involves an elite group. Is wrong always wrong and are there varying shades of illegal?

There are some that will say, "This fighting has to end!" I am perplexed as to why they are not saying, "Do what is right for all!" or "Protect the taxpayers!" We can only grow with new ideas that are brought together by thought and conscience, not special interests.

Something to think about.

Steve Brown

Mayor, Peachtree City

sbrown@peachtree-city.org