What is not so obvious, but very much related, is how the decline of civility in government tracks the decline in values that protect democracy in the United States compared to other developed nations. For the world, Americans imagined themselves to be the Shining City on the Hill. But we are not, in fact. Not even close. As created by the International Monetary Fund, some of these metrics were published by the New York Times today. They contain dismal indicators of the health of our democracy.Having spent 15 years on the receiving end of a lack of civility from fellow county commissioners, former Commissioner Sorenson is an expert. But having a feel-good, cheerleading session to awaken Miami! isn't going to shed light on the subject.
It would be better to start by considering the facts behind Sorenson's nemesis on the county commission, Natacha Seijas. Seijas, who has mastered the lack of civility to her own ends, is subject of a second recall effort by constituents. The special interests flooding to aid Seijas are contributors whose business lines direct intersect with county contracts or zoning issues.
The bottom line is that these special interests are all well-heeled and some are very wealthy. Their children go to private schools and colleges. They live in gated communities in Coral Gables or Pinecrest, far from Seijas' core constituents; poor or lower middle class residents and voters of Hialeah. In other words, the people who run government-- for their own interests-- are far removed from the metrics highlighted by the New York Times chart of indicators.
I doubt the absence of civility these business interests support in government and politics is matched by conduct in their home life, although that is just a guess. I believe that this phenomenon is due to shortened business horizons and opportunities that are largely the result of fouling our own nest in South Florida and elsewhere. Instead of investing for the public good, we have turned over the keys of government to short term, private profit.
This points to the fundamental crisis in America today: that the powerful interests that run the dominant politics, the GOP, don't care for and don't believe in the public good. In fact, they belittle it. I know, because I have been on the receiving end-- as an environmentalist in Florida-- for many, many years. There can't be civility in government until business leaders demand change. But the attitude of business leaders is, why should I care? If America is going down, shouldn't I take care of my own, first?
6 comments:
Civility begins with a good heart.
The lack of good hearts is epidemic in MDC. I suspect it is a generational thing from a local, national and world level. People are animals and our county and country are no different.
Internationally, it is a even darker cloud.
I believe the problem is money. I have found over very many years that even people I helped elect because they were good become bedazzled with the money offered them and soon turn very bad. We have to find a way to stop the flow of money into elected representatives. If they cannot get money from those wanting them to harm the general public then they will probably have to be good to the public in order to be reelectd. The best way to clean up politics will be a constitutional amendment forbiding any way of giving an elected official any money in any way.
Mensa, perhaps lobbyist reform via a charter amendment. I think something with contractors/vendors as well. There's too much money at stake on these projects they bid on and the same people seem to get the the same work, shutting out others.
Lobbyist & Development interest ban on campaign contributions would work for me.
Lobbyist firms retained by the County would be barred from lobbying the County - think Ron Book, perhaps Rodney Baretto too but for other reasons.
I can dream! It will never happen until the County goes bankrupt or runs all the taxpayers out, leaving government employees basically paying themselves, or, we can annex in to Cuba and take the Island over! (please be advised, I am being very cynical here, but I am part of the "wine & cheese set" living "south of the mason dixon line"!
Thank you, Katy. We've got to start somewhere.
I hope they talk about Wisconsin and Governor Scott Walker being compared to Hitler!
We really do need civility in our public discourse. It is essential as long as George W Bush in not the President.
We've got a great model for doing this in Tallahassee - The Village Square started 5 years ago by a bipartisan group of local leaders who had tired of the inability to make sensible decisions and have civilized conversations. Looks like we'll be adding another location in Florida shortly (not Miami, but it sounds like a good idea for someone to pursue). Check it out at http://www.tothevillagesquare.org
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