March 9, 2009

On Point

Aren’t politics wonderful?

By Bill Highlander
Editor

Madison Nguyen successfully withstood an attempted recall and will continue to represent District 7 on the San Jose City Council, at least until the next election. I’m pleased she won the election, but it’s too bad the taxpayers had to pony up the dollars for the process and that both sides spent money that might have gone to other purposes, like buying goods that might help the economy.

Thankfully, we can elect our leaders in a democratic process, and every time we hold an election we can throw the bums out if we don’t like the way they did their job. But the recall process should be used only when an official has done something terribly wrong, like break the law or betrayed the public trust. We shouldn’t try to circumvent the electoral process just because we don’t like them.

I do hope that when the next election cycle comes around, we will not re-elect the California legislators who damaged the citizens with their intransigent behavior on the budget. I understand principles and commitment, but politics depends on compromise and actions for the public good.

When one brave Republican cast his vote to finally pass a budget (admittedly, one that had everyone holding their nose), the party punished him and several others by refusing to offer support and funds for their reelection. My response will be to support Abel Maldanado and vote for any one other than a remaining incumbent Republican.

It’s difficult to unseat incumbents but a lot of those in Washington need to go also. The current budget contains more than 8,500 earmarks, projects that politicians stick into the mix without much justification as to how they might help the current economic situation. Sen. McCain tried to get them eliminated but failed. So these pet projects will be added to a ballooning budget.

Of course, political actions that do good can cause some people to do dumb things. A Bay Area man spent $10,000 for a billboard along the highway denouncing the hands-free cell phone while driving. Apparently, he’s too self obsessed to worry about the safety of others. He thinks he should be able to endanger others just so that he can talk on the phone while careening down the road. He probably doesn’t think he should have to slow down in a school zone. Or maybe red lights and stop signs should apply only to other drivers who don’t have an important business like his. Some laws do protect us from idiots.