Politics versus Change

There is a phenomenon in our country that has taken on a life of its own with little or no resistance. That being on any given subject when a proposal comes forth that could lead to safer, more equitable, more productive/profitable, and/or efficient use of resources for the overall public good, the loudest bell heard pealing is the allegation of political gain.

“They’re playing politics!!!” floats to the top of the conversation quicker than a turd in a toilet bowl. To hell with the constitution & the rule of law. To hell with individual rights, quality of life, and hopes for future generations! To hell with trying to learn anything new!

Our fifteen minutes of fame, our seat in public office, our loathing & fear of anything/anyone we don’t understand must be preserved at all costs!!

I hold this to be true at all levels of government from city to state to Capitol Hill. I challenge anyone to watch the Congress/Senate sessions on CSPAN and tell me how they are different from our own City Council meetings.

I love analogies so I’m putting forth one here to illustrate my point. Much of this country west of the Rockies depends on the annual snowfall as their water source for the entire year. Let’s assume, just for giggles, that during one extreme event a select few buildings were destroyed as a result. Let’s further assume that the owners or their agents had the power to banish snowfall from ever occurring again.

The result would be short term gain for those select few as they could rest assured their little corner of the universe would never again be damaged by snowfall. However the long term effect for their prodigy as well as all in that vast expanse of real estate would be a desert unable to sustain any reasonable quality of life.

Oversimplified? Perhaps, but my view nonetheless of just how shallow and selfish it is for those whose responsibility is to look beyond their next election to the future life quality issues of the whole to focus instead on how a decision may or may not affect their personal goals or those of someone who is dangling short term benefit in front of them.

If following the rule of law and the Constitution of The United States means that some or all who now hold office will not be eligible to do so in the future so be it.

If modifying the traffic patterns in New Albany can result in more revenue for the community as a whole while I loose my favorite parking place, so be it.

If adding $7.00 a month to my utility bill will ensure that all the toilets in New Albany will continue to flush, so be it.

If the City Council has to draft and pass new legislation in order to guarantee that the monies generated by that increase are used only for and by that utility, so be it. Quit griping about it and do it!

I implore all elected officials to get over themselves and focus on the long-term good of the whole.

I further implore all citizens to do get involved. Your voice counts, but only if and when you choose to use it! Remaining silent and doing nothing is a choice but it still carries consequences.

Our children will one day either thank us or damn us for our actions/inactions!