There is no question but that an informed electorate is the basis for the success of the democratic process. In fact one of Thomas Jefferson?s often quoted statements was ?You cannot have a democracy without a free press.?
I would like to point out the gravity in this process, however, from the standpoint of being a public servant. It is a very serious and soul-searching process. Politicians, those that represent the public, have two elements that they have to wrestle with in their minds. These two pillars, which must frame a politician?s behavior and decisions, are:
An informed consensus, and
A conscience of principle.
Hopefully these two values are complimentary and/or synonymous. But, unfortunately, this may not always be so. Sometimes an informed consensus has its roots in short term aggrandizements as opposed to long term principled values.
In the case where there is conflict then the public servant has a profound responsibility. That is an obligation to stand up and bring to the public?s attention this conflict between the popular informed consensus and the conscience of principled values.
This is a very difficult path to follow, and some may think suicidal, but it is the cloth that true leaders are made of. I guess it is like the dilemma of deciding between ?doing things right? and ?doing the right things.?
Well, anyway this is leading to my observations and conclusions on how to answer this question, ?How should I vote??
My observations are that no two people ever think the same way or agree on every issue. That?s good, for it challenges our thinking and forces us to have a broader and more understanding view point. Similarly, you and your public servant will never see every issue or every problem the same way.
We must recognize this and still have a firm basis and premise for selecting our officials and for taking our stand on issues.
The obvious answer to this and which constitutes my conclusion is to select individuals and issues that in our own minds represent the principled behavior and values that we, ourselves, want to live by and that constitute the framework within which we want to raise our children.
I often think of the verse that Gene Autry sang from that favorite old Western tune ?Back in the Saddle Again? ? ?Where the Only Law is Right.?
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