A Knight in Dragonland

Yet another letter to the editor from Jim Mangan graced the pages of the weekend edition of the Daily Times. Apparently Mr. Mangan was upset by some comments made by outgoing Mayor Frank Mackaman regarding the duties of elected officials.

I’ve been ignoring Mangan lately, but this letter really struck me with the level of ignorance it displayed regarding the proper functioning of our political system.

Mayor Mackaman argued that elected officials should not make decisions simply based on the “popular will.” Mackaman was disturbed that officials and citizens would design policy and base decisions solely on what they perceived was the will of the people.

Mangan, on the other hand, would rather have our elected officials flop around spinelessly in the wind, blowing where the winds of public opinion tell them to blow. Since Jim Mangan blows the hardest, obviously all politicians should listen to him and do as he says.

Yes, that was pure snark … but someone needs to keep this guy in check.

As most reasonable people realize, the difficulty comes in determining the popular will. Who can really know the popular will??? I have yet to meet any elected official that can read the minds of everyone in their electoral district and weigh all of their opinions on any given matter.

To whom should the elected official listen? The wealthy and well connected? The pollsters and their polls? Carefully manipulated focus groups? Those who call, write or email them? The obnoxious blowhards who write weekly letters to the editor?

I know … more snark.

Of course elected officials should listen to the ideas and concerns of their constituents. However, they should represent ALL of their constituency … even those that don’t vote or can’t vote. It’s their job, as our representatives, to be the best informed and make the decisions that they feel will benefit the greatest number of people.

That’s why we should elect qualified, hard-working and ethical individuals who will use their best judgement and do what’s right for their community. I want leaders and decision makers in public office … not windsocks.