Absolute Power?
July 7, 2008
(Note: If you want to read political articles from throughout the state (everyday), you should visit SCHotline.com where I found the article that led to this post tonight)
Maybe I’m just too naive to “get it” but I still can’t figure out why articles like this always come around when incumbents lose.
Is the counter-argument to this position that SC Citizens should “keep electing the same folks” so that those veterans can “yield power” (supposedly gained because of years in office)? Do those citizens think that this “power” will somehow help their individual position in life? Help move our state forward?
Remember while only those 30,000 citizens in our districts can vote for us, we are supposed to be representatives of the ENTIRE STATE of South Carolina and should be putting the interests of the whole ahead of the parts.
One could argue that often sending the same folks backs can lead to the status-quo mentality that seems to be holding our state back.
Yes, everyone in Columbia has noted that alot of “power” seems to be in Charleston and, yes, the coast does seem to get a share of your tax dollars more often than not; but I just don’t see the logic in saying certain areas “lost” because of who they elected.
What if an area gained a Republican to replace a Democrat as their representative? Would that mean they “gained power” because there are more Republicans in the General Assembly?
What about next year when we Republicans will have a new majority leader (and currently no one from Charleston is a candidate)? How about our new Assitant Majority Leader next year ( Greenville Representative Bruce Bannister is one of two members running)?
Many would argue some of the folks “in power” could be doing more harm to the state than good…just as easily as some would argue “their guy brings home the bacon” (if that’s what’s important to them).
This is not meant to be a knock on the writer (heck, I spent 15 years in the Greenville area) but I just see things are more of “half full” in terms of new-blood in office. Yes, I’ll miss some of those folks who I consider friends during my four short years in office; but most of us will welcome the new members and we realize they were elected for a reason. For many of these new officials, it could be the same reason some of us were elected.
Could there be truth to the old saying “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” or did that article in The Greenville News have it right?
UPDATE: Seems others share my opinion as I just learned The Other Brooks Brother (and their Sister Too) posted about this today too.
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[…] Nathan Ballentine (who believes a little differently than a bunch of other incumbents) wrote that power by a long-time officeholder isn’t the answer for moving “our state forward.” […]
[…] you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ve seen my posts already about this subject and how I am looking forward to continuing to bring positive change to our state. If new folks are […]
I do agree that we ought to vote for the best person running for the office but oft times people vote for party or someone that they know from the time spent in office. It depends on what is meant by “moving our state forward means to the individual. You office holders ought to pay attention to the quote you used on “absolute power corrupts absolutely” when restructuring is brought up again.
Mike,
I’m for restructuring to the extent it equals “power” in our state between the three branches.
Currently we are a Legislative-Branch-driven state. Probably ironic that I’m a member of that body and am willing to give up some “power”, huh?
I feel if we have more accountability in our Executive branch, we may see more results.
What seems to be getting in the way the past few years are the personalities involved instead of the postions/offices.
Legislative, Executive, Judicial…instead of individual General Assembly officials, Mark Sanford, Jean Toal.
Thanks for writing and I hope you’ll stay in touch!
Nathan
[…] Absolute Power? […]
I think that anyone who carefully studied each veto by our governor and failed to agree with at least a majority of them have their priorities misplaced. Some (thank goodness,not all) of our legislators claim to be Republicans which means to me a conservative approach to governing.Alarmingly to me at least some act like socialists or worse. Nathan ,is there enough interest among your contemporarys to organize a true conservative caucus that perhaps could do more than a lone voice crying out in the wilderness who is or can be summarily ignored. Keep up the good work representing all the citizens rather than trying to build a political dynasty.