A representative form of government implies, at least to some, that the best interests of the governed are carried to the Capitol by those elected to perform that role and, with careful consideration of pertinent information, are duly balanced against one another as a consensus emerges about the right course of action to take on the most urgent matters at hand.
And if you believe the above claptrap, you are either a sucker waiting to be sold a famous bridge or a hopeless Utopian pining for an unknowable future. So which is your preference?
Here’s a fun fact: Over two thousand bills have been submitted by the combined membership of the 107th General Assembly this session. Quite a number of those will go on to become law. Others will end up being either forgotten or revived in subsequent sessions. Which ones matter? What are the criteria being used to prioritize them?
A bill’s merits should not be weighted using its popularity alone. This is not “American Idol” we are talking about. Our state faces serious challenges in the immediate and near terms, and the responsible adults we elect must address those opportunities on behalf of us all.
So, then, like creeping Sharia law? Out-of-control voter fraud by undocumented aliens? The dire lack of permitted firearms on university campuses? Are these the issues storming our castle?
One must ask the questions even if the legislation in question is a personal favorite, like the proposed change to liquor laws that would allow wine sales in grocery stores. Yes, it sounded like a fantastic idea (for the fourth time in a row). Yes, we can live without it for an indefinite period of time while we shore up our economy and our education systems.
The position put forth here is neither to attack nor celebrate the individual merits of any legislation. Such is, of course, an important consideration: Is this the right thing to do? But there is another perspective, a prerequisite prism through which to view a bill: Is this the right thing to do first? In computer software development, one learns to address the items that remove or mitigate the largest risks before tackling additional items. Surely this principle has broader applications.
Don’t forget that your representatives face all manner of pet issues as they show up to do their sworn duty. But likewise, be sure to remind them—courteously, with the respect one would hope to engender oneself—to appropriately prioritize the items that alleviate the most pressing problems ahead of those that simply add points to their reelection quotients.
Joe Lance shares his opinions on civic matters and politics from an impassioned but nonpartisan perspective. You are invited to follow both of his Twitter accounts (@tnticket or @joelance) or email him at tnticket@gmail.com.
