What have I learned thus far about politics?
I decided to run for Alderman to effect change within our city,I want to be a part of the public service world. Believe it or not I just want to do some good, I know what a concept you want to do some good, run for office.
After problems arose in the area I live in someone took the time to step in and help and that's something that I want to pay forward. I believe I have what it takes to be a good council member because I can relate. I have kids in school, pay taxes, like so many others our family has to scrimp and save for the things we need or want. I worry about our city's crime, it's finances, school system, code enforcement issues and how we can get more jobs so people can take care of their families. Isn't this why most people run for office in the first place? Is the fact that I honestly want to make a difference in the city I live in naive?
I've learned that politics can be quite confusing, not so much the campaigning aspect but the dynamics of the whole.
Some people can only openly back or endorse you as long as you are affiliated with the same political party they are. Should someones party label be the deciding factor over who you believe would actually do the best possible job? Is it really so taboo within the political world to openly support someone who's not on the same ticket? Is there a secret code that I am unaware of that states you may support whomever you like in private, but in public you must support a fellow party member or you will be tarred and feathered in the town square? I haven't found this passage on the books yet but I'm still looking.
Maybe it's that candidates don't want to make waves and possibly loose the much needed support that a political party offers. Getting into office is an uphill battle and having someone tell you that they support you just don't tell anyone is paramount to being shoved down that hill. People knowing you are being supported in your campaign by someone they like and trust could make that person want to learn more about you. So a super secret pinkie promise endorsement really only amounts to a pat on the head in the long run. A pat that no one else can know about so sshhhhh.
I've learned that people just don't seem to trust politicians. Just as soon as I tell people I'm running their eyes slant suspiciously and they ask, " well why in the world would you want to do that?"
With so much corruption in public office people tend to become jaded.
Also candidates tend to promise the moon during election campaigns. Once elected promises are broken and cronies are appointed to key positions on the basis of loyalty. I believe this is a big point of discontent here in Kingston.
Poor leadership is an all too familiar story, sadly that story is the one more people hear about and remember years down the line. An honorable, successful term in office tends to fade into the background of peoples memories. When the bad outweighs the good, promises get broken and people feel they've been cheated, of course it becomes harder to trust in politicians. We can change the perception of politics by tossing the whole election process out the window and going back to being ruled by a monarch. Or we could just elect some good people into office.
Politicians don't like to admit when they are wrong or have made a mistake. When things go awry no one wants to be held accountable. No one wants to openly say to the people YES it was my error. This is something that has bugged me quite a bit lately with the whole King's Inn debacle. Obviously someone or many someones screwed up no one needs an inspector to tell us that. What I don't get is why whoever was involved from our local government hasn't stepped up and taken responsibility. I don't believe personally that this whole mess was intentional. I mean honestly, who would want to deliberately put the city another $200,000 in the hole? Nothing was done right here, the whole shebang was fubar. For those who are unfamiliar with that particular word, let's just say I learned it from my husband's long military career.People may not like what happened but I think standing up and taking responsibility gets a lot more respect than passing the buck. It also saves the city the additional cost of an investigation.
On top of all of this we have a lawsuit because a worker stepped on a nail. Which although I understand it was an on the job injury..but really..should the city and taxpayers have to shell out even more money we don't have? Shouldn't we simply be responsible for a tetanus shot and a box of band aides? Was he not wearing the correct footwear when he entered a building he was going to be gutting? I'm trying my best to be sympathetic here but it's just not working. I've done the exact same thing, at one of our parks no less, nail went straight up through my foot. My first thought was not who can I sue but oh crap when was my last tetanus?
So even after writing all this out I still find myself dazed and confused.
Is getting into public service the same as getting into politics?
Somehow I'm not so sure that it is.
Even so, I'm learning as I go, from studying city officials in office now and from other candidates running for various positions.
I'm learning how to be involved in politics without loosing my core values. I'm learning how to stay true to why I am running in the first place. I will support who I personally believe will do a good job, I will continue to stand up for what is right, and since it is now 12:30 at night I will now go to bed!
** disclaimer** as mentioned above it is after midnight, I am exhausted and running a slight fever so this blog may be jumbled. Hopefully it's at least coherent :)
3 comments:
Do what you think is right. It should be up to the party and voters to support you if they think you will do the right thing. If they are so concerned about their party that they refuse to support the right person in favor of who they are told to by their party then really what would their support be worth anyway. There is a name for those people which I won't use here.
If you do the right thing and try your best you will see people who don't blindly follow a party begin to support you. And trust me those people far out number the party zombies. Especially in this day and age.
So, how's it going? You gonna make it to alderman? or do we get "gallo, polacco, etc" instead of excellence?
Your website isn't coming up (404 not found) and a couple of updates to your blog, links to 10/1... could you do that? Or maybe just link the blog to Facebook posts?
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