(One of our new registered users, Scott Beggs is a recent graduate from Baylor University, where he earned a political science degree and served as Vice-President of the student body. A long-time friend, I asked him to write this after a recent discussion we had at the famous house of ideas, Taco Cabana. - promoted by Phillip Martin)
There won’t be any names in this article. Democracy, after all, has never been about names. It’s always been about ideas.
The upcoming state election on November 7th has refueled the need for these ideas, and, with a uniquely energized electorate, the races are gaining speed. Unfortunately in this time of need, most commentary coming from inside PAC meetings and on internet message boards has focused on what team each candidate is playing for. The usual slanderous statements about Republicans being unfeeling defenders of corporate America and Democrats being unrealistic idealists without a plan have dominated the marketplace of ideas.
The truth that most political institutions don’t want the voters to know is that the importance placed on party lines is mostly fabricated. Not discounting its place in the governmental spectrum, the party system is not the last word on how policies are created, especially in local and state governments. It is people that create momentum, and qualified, tested leaders exist in both parties waiting for your votes to give them the power to speak for you. This isn’t an endorsement for any candidate in particular, and certainly not a cry for any one party to triumph over the others, but a call for voters to seek out individuals who prove that they deserve a seat in whatever chair they seek out.
The officials to vote for are the officials who have proven effective or who show promise that they can communicate the needs of the people to their respective branches. You already know their names. They are the community leaders running for school board and the Texas leaders running for house seats who don’t boast standing in their party, but clear records of servant leadership.
Our generation has been frustrated by the sleekness of campaigns and the well-oiled machines working behind the scenes of each party – Republicans, Democrats and Independent parties alike. Their messages are tailored, their tactics reek of propaganda, their reputations are hidden behind the larger party apparatus. Fortunately, the tide seems to be turning against this sort of politics, and if voters continue looking for results instead of emotionally driven public relations blitzes, the political climate may change altogether.
Texas is a great state, but has its fair share of problems. These problems – education, land taxes, immigration – need pragmatic solutions and the support of effective leaders. These solutions will never emerge if the parties are more concerned with being right than serving the people of the state. This has been an all-too-common theme for the party system with each group rallying behind moral victories, character attacks and scandals which have little to do with Texan prosperity. If the voters are drawn into the discussion over which party is more correct, it could be detrimental to the broader existence of ideas that could improve the lives of millions of citizens.
Bottom line? Working together to create powerful policies toward the betterment of the state far outweighs the sandbox arguments that flash between certain members of each party. The electorate must see past this fire wall of petty fights for bragging rights and look into the personal effectiveness of the individuals running for each position regardless of their affiliations.
It all comes down to what qualities you want out of your governmental leaders: the ability to say, “I told you so” or a true concern for the people of Texas, a dynamic set of ideas and a willingness to work with the other representatives in the room to achieve a better future for every Texan.
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