More Private Sector Candidates, Less Government Candidates
By Jim Willis on May 8, 2008 in Education, Elections, Government & Politics | Printable Version
I’m likely to get myself in hot water with this opinion, but hey, what’s new? I’ve peripherally followed the story of how one of our local school districts, Chenango Valley, “discovered” a $3M shortfall in their budget last fall but didn’t bother to tell the public for six months. Oops.
Last night there was a “meet the candidates” night for the public to ask questions of the candidates for the CV School Board. It seems like a good idea to grill the people who hold the power to drain every last dime from your wallet, eh?
There are four people running for two open positions on the CV Board. By full-time occupation, they include:
- An insurance broker
- A Windsor middle school teacher
- A Vestal middle school teacher
- A supervisor with Broome County Social Services
Does anyone see a problem here? Three of the four people running are employed by the government! Two of them by other area school districts. Don’t get me wrong–they all have the right to run for the CV School Board (provided they live in the district) and if they want to, go for it. I do not know any of them personally nor even by reputation–my comments are not about the people running as individuals.
My concern is that people who already work for the government and are elected to government positions are much more likely to “go along” with higher taxes and increased spending. There is a conflict of interest. They are more disposed to be favorable to bigger government exactly because they work for the government and are paid by the government. Also, they belong to unions and are likely to be pressured, subtly or not so subtly, by their fellow union members.
I’d like people running who are tired of paying high taxes. People who punch a time clock and bust their humps every day for a paycheck and don’t like it when governmental entities, like school boards, are only too happy to drain their wallets (legalized theft).
My wish is that more “private sector” people were running for these open school board positions. I guess I’m just a hopeless dreamer.
Technorati Tags: Binghamton, Chenango Valley Central School, school board, school board elections, private sector
Brent Beckley | May 8, 2008 | Reply
I would bet that private sector people are incapable of taking such positions for any length of time because they are used to “creating results.” Only those truly jaded by working in government institutions can handle the inefficiency, the total lack of creativity, and the ouright immorality of such positions…from the local school board straight to that square between Western & Central Avenues. I’ve thought many times of running for local offices, but my wife always reminds me that I need LESS frustration in my life, not more.
Jim Willis | May 9, 2008 | Reply
Thanks Brent. I think you’d make a great office-holder, no matter what office! But as you point out, who needs the headaches?
I say this to myself and not you Brent: If I don’t get involved, actively, at some level, I have no room to complain. One of the ways I stay involved is writing this blog. But I need to get more involved in the political process–without running for an office!