Nowadays, it has become socially acceptable to demand instant gratification on behalf of those ranging from customer service representatives to public officeholders. Not too long ago, such a mindset was regarded as being both immature and downright foolish. It was a well established fact that the best things are made in due time, not rampant haste. Naturally, the creation of public policy measures is no acceptation. When logically considered, why on earth would anyone want quick fixes to be devised for the most pressing of problems in the political arena? As these instantaneous solutions lead only to long term turmoil, the only answer can be that emotionalism is substituting for reason.
Speaking of politics specifically, holding our elected officials to their word is inequitable with needlessly haranguing them for not, to borrow from an ancient phrase, building Rome in a single afternoon. Getting the most worthwhile of programs and policies enacted takes a great deal of time, and longer still if the politician in question is a legislator. One senator or representative in a chamber of quite possibly several hundred is only capable of doing very little alone. This does not hold true for executive positions, such as mayoralties and governorships, as mandate powers are usually had, but these should be exercised to their fullest extents sparingly in order to avoid developing a local dictatorship of sorts. In any case, one should realize that, pure and simple, miracles are the stuff of religion, not the political process.
A public officeholder's fidelity to his or her constituents should be measured through how many honest attempts have been made to fulfill the promises made during a campaign, and nothing else insofar as the law is obeyed. As time passes, one's agenda can easily slip through his or her hands as sand would through a tightening fist, until it is completely out of its creator's control. This is highly unfortunate, but is simply, as many in the South say, "how the cow eats the cabbage".
The sooner that the American electorate comes to terms with the fact that policies and things in general that are worth the most take a commensurate amount of time to make, the better off we all will be.
Article comments
1 - Glenn Contrarian
Y'know, Joseph -
When you first appeared on BC, I didn't like your positions very much...but you've shown yourself to be a deep thinker...
...and you've earned my respect. I also suspect I have to be careful about reading your articles, for you're showing yourself to be in many ways closer to my own point of view, and if I were to agree with you, then I might lose some liberal cred, y'know what I mean?
2 - Joseph Cotto
Glenn,
Thank you very much. No need to worry about losing street cred; great minds tend to think alike from what I have observed, regardless of whether they hold liberal or conservative philosophies. So long as nothing totally off the wall is thrown out there, I, and am sure you, can appreciate someone else's perspective on any given current event. Hearing different ideas, and learning from the better ones, is really what makes life interesting.
3 - Ndumiso Mnkandla
In more ways than one,I agree with the ideas raised by the author and have respect for his openness and clarity of purpose, but sometimes I feel at pains harmonising cross-fertilised political views that more often than not lead to political constipation.Indeed there can be unity of purpose among people who subscribe to different political ideologies.You will discover from now that I have been following your publications and in all instances I have made some comments.Generally, your political alignment seems to coincide with mine as well as Glenn indicated in his/her contribution.I also invite you to my blog for comments.I need your input,sir.
4 - Joseph Cotto
Ndumiso,
Glad to see that we both agree on the idea of transpartisan politics. What we need in the political realm, especially on an international scale, are more clear, independent thinkers rather than hardline ideologues. I will try to comment on your blog, but am often swamped with work, and have trouble just responding to the readers of my own articles. Nonetheless, thanks for your thoughts on my articles. It is always beneficial to hear as many perspectives on a given topic as possible.