Piranhas Swimming at the Trout Farm
By
What are the foundations for a good government (if the idea even exists)? Adams and Jefferson discussed this subject occasionally in the hundreds of letters the two exchanged over nearly fifty years. They saw the basis for a good government wrapped within two characteristics. The first is a system of diluted power or decentralization. The second incorporated a system of checks and balances where no one governmental unit held absolute power over another. But where is the check on power when bureaucrats hold an elected position while still collecting money from the public trust? Is this not like the old adage of the fox watching the hen house.
Jefferson thought this to be the case. As President of the United States he issued an order (paraphrased) stating it is the right of any government employee to vote in an election. It is, however, expected that the government employee will not engage in electioneering or trying to influence the vote of others. If a government employee could not be involved in electioneering, then in essence they were banned from seeking political office while still employed as a public servant.
In 1939 Congress passed the Hatch Act that political activity of government employees must be restricted in order for government institutions to function fairly and effectively (another idea that does not exist). Under the Hatch Act federal employees may not:
• Use official authority to influence to interfere with an election
• Solicit or receive political contributions
• Be a candidate for public office in partisan elections
• Engage in political activity while on duty, in a government office, wearing an official uniform, or using a government vehicle.
Though the Hatch Act pertained specifically to federal employees, some states invoked similar restrictions. Through the years the prohibitions on political activity by government employees has been greatly water-downed.
After glancing at some of the individuals running for county board in the paper, I wonder why we allow government non-worker, workers to hold a political seat while still collecting a government paycheck and making bureaucratic policy. This is not good government when you allow a tax piranha to decide how tax dollars are to be spent. One of the candidates even wears a uniform. He is the police chief for the city of Prescott. Take a look at this crop of candidates and see how many collect a government check. They should fit in well with the rest of the county board.
The county board is already filled with retired government non-worker, workers. Personally, I think any retired government non-worker, worker should be prohibited from political office since they still collect a taxpayer funded pension and health insurance benefits.
The other problem on the county board when it comes to the principle of diluted powers is that two members that I know of hold political office in a town within the county. County Chair Daryl Standefur also sits on the North Hudson Board. Fred Horne, the mayor of New Richmond, is a member of the county board. How can there be checks and balances when one person holds office in two different political bodies with one being a subset of the other.
The citizens of Saint Croix County are staring at the barrel of government non-worker, worker tyranny.
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