Held To A Higher Standard – Keeping Our Elected Officials In Line
As Americans, we are all given certain inalienable rights, such as our freedom of speech, our right to bear arms, our protection against unlawful searches and seizures, among others. Many of these rights are outlined in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights. Others, however, are a little less prominent, but no less important. In our government structure, which is so heavily controlled by political parties, the right to affiliate with the political party of one’s choice is one of the most important rights that an American has.
Recently, in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, an elected official chose to exercise that right and changed his party affiliation from the Democratic party to the Republican party. This was not so surprising of a move in itself. In fact, over 400 officials, elected as Democrats, have chosen to defect to the Republican party under the Clinton/Gore administration. The difference this time is that five months after this particular elected official, who happened to be a County Commissioner, switched his party affiliation, he chose to resign his position.
Normally this would have not caused a problem. State statutes outline procedures for filling vacancies in elected offices. It is a simple procedure that starts with the remaining commissioners declaring a vacancy and then notifying the chairman of the county party, to which the outgoing office holder belonged (in this case the Republican party), of that vacancy. The chairman of that party would then call a meeting of that party’s central committee. At this meeting, the members would nominate three candidates to be forwarded to the remaining commissioners. The remaining commissioners would then select, of those three candidates, one person who would then be appointed to fill the vacancy. A simple process, governed by simple statutory laws.
One problem, however, corrupted that entire process. In this case, the remaining two commissioners were Democrats. In addition, the County Attorney was also a Democrat. Between the three, they decided that they could, in direct opposition to statutory law and right of every American to affiliate with the political party of their choice, replace the outgoing commissioner with a Democrat instead of a Republican. The thinking behind this decision was simple. They believed, right or wrong, that they could get away with it. What they didn’t believe though, was that anyone would step up to the plate to do anything about it.
They were wrong.
As Americans, we are all given certain responsibilities. Foremost among these is our responsibility to make sure that our elected officials, whom we empower to lead us, do so in strict compliance with the laws that they are sworn to uphold. When they don’t, it is our job to stand against them and make sure that our rights are protected. In this case, the remaining commissioners were sued, and the courts were asked to force them to comply with the law. With any luck, the case will be fast-tracked to the Wyoming Supreme Court, and justice will be served swift and decisively.
Until then, this serves to remind each and every one of us that our rights are not secure. At any time, those we elect to speak for us can turn against us. At any time, our chosen leaders may stray across that line that separates them from right and wrongdoers. And If we’re not watching, our inalienable rights quickly become alienated. To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson , “If you believe that you can live in a nation that is both ignorant and free, you believe in what never has been and what never will be.”
Take interest in your local and national governments. Don’t ever believe that you can’t make the world a better place, and don’t believe that your leaders can’t be held to a higher standard. In the example discussed above, the elected officials who chose to ignore the law will be held to a standard set by the Wyoming Supreme Court. Then, come election time, they will be held to an even higher standard. In fact, in these times of corruption, lies, and deceit in our nations elected offices, it falls upon each and every one of us to be the watchdogs of our laws. It is up to each and every one of us to make absolutely sure that our leaders are held to that higher standard. Which brings us to one more right, and one more responsibility. The right and responsibility to vote.
To quote one more of our great historic leaders, Abraham Lincoln, “No man is so great that he can govern another without that other’s permission.” Ask yourself, “Who did I give that permission to?”
Peace.
Wisdom
