Believe them or not...

[kellyc]

The closer the politicians are to the citizens, and the more the citizens pay attention to what is going on, the less corruption you have. LESS, but not zero.

Im sure that plays a big factor in it. But then how do you explain the problems in Durham (City or County). They seem to be very close to the citizens there, yet something is just wrong there. Really wrong. Maybe they are too close?


SOME do....but not ALL of them get into politics for such altruistic reasons. It would be nice if it were true, but I don't believe that for a split second.
Cathy

Im sure there are lots of bad apples out there. But I just tend to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I believe they are good hearted until they give me a reason not to believe.

Kelly

[dhyatt]

Reasons to believe - or not

This could get so interesting for so many different reasons. We might even move/copy this thread to national issues to discuss politicians at that level. However, let's start with people we know (or at least think we know) to some extent. We'll go through council members one by one in alphabetical order until all the beans are spilled ;-) I'll start.

Marla Dorrel
My reasons to believe

Expresses and demonstrates a seemingly genuine concern for kids
Does her homework on issues most of the time
Usually keeps her cool when things don't go her way
Pretty good about responding to email and messages
Will usually voice citizen concerns as long as she is aware of them

My reasons not to believe

Doesn't do a good job debating with facts
Doesn't 'choose her battles' well
Memory is too long when things don't go her way
Vision of Cary is much more expensive than most voters would want
Oblivious to costs when dealing with an issue she champions
Gets too caught up in factional intra-council arguments thus sometimes voting 'against' a person(s) instead of for/against the actual issue

[hollyL]

I agree with Kelly that we should at least give people a chance. Since I was just thankful I made it through my portion of "Public Speaks Out" I *may* have interpreted the comment of the Mayor incorrectly but I think he was trying to imply (or outright said) that I needed someone from the town to explain the ordinance to me. I'm certainly not a genius but I am literate. So he's on my probation list for that one.

I think a lot of people do go in to politics to help but in the end the power is just too much for most people to not become “corrupt”.

[kellyc]

I agree with some of what you put in there for Marla (me thinks you will have to move this). However I would add:

Marla Dorrell
Reasons to believe:

Seems to vote her concious. She doesnt vote the way her friends tell her to vote and she doesnt vote strictly along party lines.

[kellyc]

Michael Joyce
========

My Reasons to believe:
Not afraid to ask simple questions
Seems to honestly be a working class person that wants to minimize goverment impact on businesses
Does an extremely good job of keeping his cool, when being chastized by other council members.

[hollyL]

Michael Joyce
----------------

Still returned my email after I said I was a democrat! And was polite!

[johnb]

Marla Dorrell
Reasons to believe:

Seems to vote her concious.

Why is that a positive? Hitler, Stalin, Nixon, Clinton and politicians from a wide range of ideological bases can all claim that. Note, I'm not comparing the RINO to any of them, just trying to get it acros to you that that is a value neutral proposition. You seem to think it is a positive when it is not.

Let us say the RINO was complete bought. She voted the way she was told to vote. Let's say the person that has influenced her influenced her to vote in a way that was in the best interests of her consituents. Would that be unethical? How could that be less desireable than having, say, Leftists on the city council pushing policies that drove small busineesses out of the city?

[kellyc]

Marla Dorrell
Reasons to believe:

Seems to vote her concious.

Why is that a positive? Hitler, Stalin, Nixon, Clinton and politicians from a wide range of ideological bases can all claim that. Note, I'm not comparing the RINO to any of them, just trying to get it across to you that that is a value neutral proposition. You seem to think it is a positive when it is not.

I see it as an independent thinker, that can come up with her own conclusions. She doesnt need anyone to develop her opinions for her.

Kelly

[johnb]

Take a hypothetical...let's suppose the RINO is an intrisically evil creature, would her acting upon that latent evil be more virtuous than her being influenced by a virtuous person acting to influence her voting habit?

"Voting their conscience" really doesn't mean much since the voters know so little about most candidates. We are told that it is uncouth to inquire about the candidates religious faith and personal values, yet how else could we know what their conscience is actually grounded on?

[kellyc]

Take a hypothetical...let's suppose the RINO is an intrisically evil creature, would her acting upon that latent evil be more virtuous than her being influenced by a virtuous person acting to influence her voting habit?

"Voting their conscience" really doesn't mean much since the voters know so little about most candidates. We are told that it is uncouth to inquire about the candidates religious faith and personal values, yet how else could we know what their conscience is actually grounded on?

I would do the same thing as if she jumped up on the council table and started singing "I want you John Barbara". I just roll my eyes, call her a quack and see what I could do to help her find another profession in 4 years. As that has not occured, I think the term I should have used is that she is an independent thinker.

Kelly