Relevance of Political Campaigns

Proving the unprovable is what political campaigns do these days. Spinning an image is part of it. Displaying personal attributes the candidate needs to succeed in the position being sought, that’s another function of the campaign. Day by day sound bites are made and used and demanded – over and over again, until one day a campaign manager has the bright idea to showcase the remarkable mind of the candidate on a host of issues.

A bright idea but one most difficult to bring off successfully.

Why you ask? Glad you asked! Because, no candidate has a mind so creative, experienced and voluble to cover a gold range of subjects that will fit comfortably in a campaign. Oh they try! How they try. But eventually the lie is shown clearly and people make up facts, and quotes from the candidate that fit each and every circumstance. It would be nice if the candidates did have this breadth of understanding of the most critical issues. But they don’t. Take Trump. Does he have any grasp of international relations, use of military power or nuanced negotiations to gain collaboration among a large array of allies? I know you know the answer to that question! Don’t make me put it into words!!

And policy issues closer to home. How would America improve its educational output among students? Are they mastering the classwork they will need to survive in the modern world? Are they capable of creating whole new futures that will sustain a vibrant and successful nation? How do we measure that? How do we pay for that? How do we calculate performance along the way toward those goals?

Most of the candidates running for president have never run a city department let alone serve as policy chief, or Mayor of a city. Or a Park District or Library system? What about congressmen and senators? Do they govern? I don’t thing what they do is actually governance. It is obstruction at the worst, and advise and consent at the best. But please watch how the Illinois State Legislature failed to provide a budget last July 1st and still doesn’t have one. It won’t, either. It will be the following year’s budget they might have the gumption to pass for the next fiscal year. Meanwhile the state molders, university campuses are threatened with closure, local schools lose teachers, aides and management staff. Classes are shortened. Study halls are lengthened. Day care for all ages has been born.

That is not governance. Nor is Congress’ obstruction of President Obama’s every wish and program. So they can accuse him of being ineffective. They are wrong of course; he is effective; they are not. And their poverty of spirit and intellect are in full view for all to see. Governance? No. If they could they would but they cannot. Even John McCain cannot do this and never has at the national level. Play acting at it, for sure! Same with the senior Utah senator. Talks a good game but delivers nothing. Nothing for his state, region or nation. He is a zero producer. And all for the game of politics.

Governance requires persons with authority to consider seriously what the nation, state or region needs, then create viable options to explore, choose the best at reasonable cost and then implement. For the good of the country. Implement and produce results. Have you witnessed anything like that lately from Washington DC or your state capital, or your mayor’s office.

Small communities excel in governance. They are up close and personal with both the problems and the people who live with those problems. There is real concern and caring that drives solutions forward. And action is taken to deliver those solutions.

Big government is not the bad thing people think it is. No; it is the people elected to serve in big government that disappoint. When will we – you – make this situation disappear? How do we do it?

We have an election coming up. A national election. I have my favorite candidates but I won’t share that with you. That’s not the purpose of this essay. The purpose of these words is to help you make a commitment to support only those people who are doing their jobs. For the rest, support their opposition.

I’ve said in this space before – get rid of most elected national politicians and elect serious candidates who know what they are talking about and really truly want to get good things accomplished. For the nation. For its people.

Only then will we have a responsive, intelligent forward looking governance structure. We deserve that. We need that. The lack is apparent upon all that we survey.

So what are you waiting for? Time’s a wasting!

March 28, 2016