Politicians should never ignore voters' wishes

The Washington Times ^ | 11-14-07 | Gene Mueller

[JZelle]

Note to politicians everywhere: Ignore the voters and legislate against their wishes and chances are you'll be looking for a job that taxpayers won't have to pay for.

After last week's elections in states and municipalities across the nation, citizens came to the voting booths to give certain smug politicians a kick in the pants. In New Jersey, for example, elected officials who showed a disdain for hunters were ousted.

In a well-organized effort by the state's hunters and anglers, with strong support provided by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA), a national hunter advocacy group lobbied against state Sen. Ellen Karcher, Freehold Democrat, and Assemblyman Mike Panter, Shrewsbury Democrat. Sportsmen came to the polls and defeated both. The anti-hunting politicians sponsored legislation that would remove hunters, sport anglers and professional biologists from the state's Fish and Game Council and allow anti-hunting political appointees to take their place.

USSA president Bud Pidgeon said, "Panter also sponsored legislation that would ban bear hunting, fund the animal rights agenda and strip the New Jersey Fish and Game Commission of its management authority. The legislation has become a rallying cry for sportsmen to better organize to defend themselves. New Jersey sportsmen demonstrated that the hunting community has the numbers to affect elections and influence policy."

Are you listening, Richmond and Annapolis?

[JZelle]

I love happy endings!

[ZULU]

It ain’t over till its over.

Dumping Karcher and Panter are definite pluses.

But they will be back in the lame duck session and the bills in question are up for a vote.

If the Legislature, dominated by Dems approves, the ideologically left wing dingbat in the State Executive Office will most certainly sign them.

[RonF]

Actually;

I quite approve of a politician who says “Damn the voters, I’m going to vote for what I think is right.” And I quite approve of voters who in turn vote such people out of office. I think a politician should vote the way that he or she thinks is right. I figure that in the long run we would be better served by a class of politicians with enough character to do what they think is right regardless of the consequences to their political career than by the current crop that votes whatever way the current polling winds blow. Winds can change. Character should not.

[twigs]

Excellent!! I couldn’t agree more!

[Michael.SF.]

Well said and fully agree! (see tagline)

[henkster]

I agree Ron. Voting what the opinion polls say; isn’t that what we lambast the Clintons for doing? Setting policy by opinion poll with no real morality of their own, other than the naked pursuit of power?

If my elected leaders lay out a case that that sacrifices, such as tax increases, are necessary under present circumstances, I can swallow it and go along. The problem is that I don’t trust any of them. I don’t trust them to tell me the truth about whether a real need exists instead of just pandering to special interests. I don’t trust them to vote for the common good instead of personal pursuit of perpetual power. I don’t trust them to repeal remedial measures when the need has passed.

Politicians have proven over the last several decades that they cannot be trusted. Thus, we have a broken system of government.

[glorgau]

We live in a Republic, not a Democracy.