Legislator’s Paradox
Having attended numerous political campaign “boot camps” of different political parties and having worked on several successful and a couple of not so successful campaigns I can tell you that the vast majority of politicians run for office with the intent of making life better for the people. This is also true for most who seek re-election.
A relative few run out of pure ego, mainly bored rich kids or those who hang on forever because they like the perks and the power. The perks and power folks are mostly limited to U. S. Senators whom I’m sure each of us can name without straining many brain cells.
One of the first things you’re taught as a candidate is that you can’t do a darn thing unless you are elected and you can’t keep doing good unless you’re re-elected. Very true, but they don’t tell you is don’t sell your soul for a vote. Remember, my friends, the soul answers to a higher authority than the voter.
Having said that, I want to mention an area of need in Arkansas that has received a fair amount of press over the last few weeks. Our children, specifically poor children and our poor families.
Before I proceed further I want to acknowledge the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, two reporters, Andrew DeMillo and Philip Reese and Columnist Mike Masterson. Much of the information in this column is from their work. The commentary is, of course, ours.
In Arkansas, children in grades K through 12 who qualify for free or reduced costs lunch programs have increased by 17% over the last four years. If the base percentage was low, while unacceptable, the problem could be studied over time and long-term solutions applied. In Arkansas, however, it is no small percentage. 240,500 students qualify while 215,000 pay full price. No minor percentage and needs action today.
Statewide about 510,000 of the 2.7 million who live in Arkansas are below the poverty level. That is 18.8 percent; well above the national average of 12.3%.
Our Governor, same one over the past six years, has just bullied a measure to allow the state to increase it’s debt for better highways…. "Better roads mean more business"… "means better wealth less poverty". He helped pass a $400 million raise in taxes to support K-12 education and asked for over $100 million more this session for our colleges… Additionally, they are looking for $2.3 billion to make physical improvements to our K - 12 schools this year. "Better education means better jobs, lower poverty" or so they say.
Our legislators and one of our most respected children and family charities, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, are seemingly on the same page. "Better roads and more money for education means", you guessed it, "less poverty".
My question is this, who is going to provide the funding and services needed by the poor between this morning and 15 or 20 years from now when these lofty very long term solutions are seen to pay dividends, if in fact they do. My research indicates, quality of education and cost per student does not corelate and great roads do little for the poor. They do help two or three of the largest truck companies in America which happen to be big donors and headquartered in Arkansas. One thing we do know is roads and massive school projects will benefit the Corporations and wealthy donor/voter now.
Today, our Department of Health, by the admission of its’ Director is so far off course neither the Department itself nor he can fix it. Our Department of Human Services is short over $100 million to provide basic needs for the poor.
Knowing children can not vote and the poor rarely vote, have these Legislators and the Governor for the past six years spent more effort and continue to spend effort on helping those who do vote or have they been caught in the paradox? Do I butter the bread of the corporations, special interests and wealthy donor/voters to get into office and stay there and abandon those my heart tells me I’m here to help or do I do what is right and risk defeat at the polls? Only you, Mr. and Ms. elected official can answer that… and of course... the child who is going to bed hungry tonight.
A relative few run out of pure ego, mainly bored rich kids or those who hang on forever because they like the perks and the power. The perks and power folks are mostly limited to U. S. Senators whom I’m sure each of us can name without straining many brain cells.
One of the first things you’re taught as a candidate is that you can’t do a darn thing unless you are elected and you can’t keep doing good unless you’re re-elected. Very true, but they don’t tell you is don’t sell your soul for a vote. Remember, my friends, the soul answers to a higher authority than the voter.
Having said that, I want to mention an area of need in Arkansas that has received a fair amount of press over the last few weeks. Our children, specifically poor children and our poor families.
Before I proceed further I want to acknowledge the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, two reporters, Andrew DeMillo and Philip Reese and Columnist Mike Masterson. Much of the information in this column is from their work. The commentary is, of course, ours.
In Arkansas, children in grades K through 12 who qualify for free or reduced costs lunch programs have increased by 17% over the last four years. If the base percentage was low, while unacceptable, the problem could be studied over time and long-term solutions applied. In Arkansas, however, it is no small percentage. 240,500 students qualify while 215,000 pay full price. No minor percentage and needs action today.
Statewide about 510,000 of the 2.7 million who live in Arkansas are below the poverty level. That is 18.8 percent; well above the national average of 12.3%.
Our Governor, same one over the past six years, has just bullied a measure to allow the state to increase it’s debt for better highways…. "Better roads mean more business"… "means better wealth less poverty". He helped pass a $400 million raise in taxes to support K-12 education and asked for over $100 million more this session for our colleges… Additionally, they are looking for $2.3 billion to make physical improvements to our K - 12 schools this year. "Better education means better jobs, lower poverty" or so they say.
Our legislators and one of our most respected children and family charities, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, are seemingly on the same page. "Better roads and more money for education means", you guessed it, "less poverty".
My question is this, who is going to provide the funding and services needed by the poor between this morning and 15 or 20 years from now when these lofty very long term solutions are seen to pay dividends, if in fact they do. My research indicates, quality of education and cost per student does not corelate and great roads do little for the poor. They do help two or three of the largest truck companies in America which happen to be big donors and headquartered in Arkansas. One thing we do know is roads and massive school projects will benefit the Corporations and wealthy donor/voter now.
Today, our Department of Health, by the admission of its’ Director is so far off course neither the Department itself nor he can fix it. Our Department of Human Services is short over $100 million to provide basic needs for the poor.
Knowing children can not vote and the poor rarely vote, have these Legislators and the Governor for the past six years spent more effort and continue to spend effort on helping those who do vote or have they been caught in the paradox? Do I butter the bread of the corporations, special interests and wealthy donor/voters to get into office and stay there and abandon those my heart tells me I’m here to help or do I do what is right and risk defeat at the polls? Only you, Mr. and Ms. elected official can answer that… and of course... the child who is going to bed hungry tonight.
posted by The Merlin Foundation | 11:26 AM
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