[StBernard] Local Elections

[Westley Annis]

Jer,
 
One might take the same approach to any "volunteer" situation.  What a shame
that the mindset is "corrupt until proven not".  I wonder Jer what you would
pay a council person to assure a clean agenda; it is not so much denial to
"your point" as much as a refusal to accept the presumed point and the
unfortunate reality that people much like yourself operate from a
confirmation bias that seeks to prove the presumption rather than see the
reality, whatever it may be.
 
Yes, I knew this going in- but it doesn't mean that it should be accepted.
You sound an awful lot like the people in Washington who said those people
in New Orleans knew they were in a flood plain- they deserve to be flooded
and shouldn't get extra money to clean up.
 
Anyway, just another way of seeing the same glass of water.
 
Craig
 
-----Original Message-----
Craig, having studied national, state and foreign governments, in is IMHO
that many good-willing candidates get beat out of the job because their
self-expressions and outward appearances during elections are not-to-par
with seasoned, polished "professional politicians" who have a gift for gab
enough to sell the toughest of Brookly Bridges and insurance to the
handicapped. 

Getting really "decent people" could be an oxymoron or antithesis to
politics to start. However, so many are in deep concern for their
neighborhoods, communities and townships. Getting elected is the key.
Another hindrance to getting the nod by the voters to represent them/lead
them is a lack of experience in running government, etc. and so the seasoned
politician has the heavy advantage by an aggressive/proactive personality
that having as an advantage, could be a shoe-in to politics. Now whether the
office tender's "agenda" is to make the significant difference in life,
community, etc, or for political gain or monetary one, is yet to be
determined by the voters. That may come later as the voters "weigh-in" the
politican for his/her achievements (minus any setbacks (ineptness), office
corruptness, or failures.

In many cases, a good, decent man/woman can become corrupt at any point in
the tenure. It makes one a skeptic wondering how one is so "dedicated" at
$600 a month, but that's the chosen job that was accepted at time of
election. Do the job, or the voters will "try" another, and another, etc.
until they become satisfied enough from sincerity, outward appearances and a
"good job done". No aim at any specific politician but LA politics is a
bedfellow to mystery and lots of investigations...<G>

That's the point, because accepting it or not--is whether one is in denial
or whatever. 

-jer-