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PITTSBURG —
Much is made of whether voters have given a mandate to one party or another. And it’s true, the voters have spoken. But what we, the people, are saying with that collective voice is honestly a bit confusing.
Crawford County voters elected Democratic representatives to the state House for both districts that make up the county. They also voted for a Republican state senator and a Republican U.S. Representative.
On a national scale, the country is inconsistent. A Democratic-controlled Senate and President must deal with a Republican-controlled House.
But perhaps the message delivered by the voters is not that they want one party in control or that they side with any one particular ethos. Perhaps the message is that a mixed government is preferred by the voters.
That way, neither party is given the excess of complete control of local or federal government. State government is a different issue, as conservative Republicans now have the opportunity to do as they wish with the ability to overrule objections by moderates or Democrats. But they still have to work upward and downward in order to help the people of Southeast Kansas and the state as a whole.
Here’s an example of how cooperation will be needed: President Obama has said he would like to use the savings from ending the wars in Asia to reinvest in America’s infrastructure, which could mean construction on highways and aging buildings. If money is going to be available for highways on a federal level, we can think of a few projects in Southeast Kansas that are just waiting on money. But that can’t take place if the conservative Republican-controlled state government isn’t willing to work with Democrats.
Likewise, if our local elected state representatives (Grant and Menghini) are going to find success and progress, they will have to find ways to work together with the politically opposite state senator (LaTurner) to build a coalition that can not only be heard, but can improve the health and economy of the people of this county and region. One place Democrats could start is to accept that they don’t have the power to overrule Brownback’s state tax cuts and to instead offer ways to make up the $328 million state budget deficit projected for the next fiscal year.
Compromise is a dirty word in politics, but it doesn’t have to be. There are real differences between the parties and certainly there are limits to how far each is willing to go. But we wait for the leaders that slice through the Gordian Knot of a political impasse and find solutions that are beneficial for all.
This county needs leaders who can create progress. This state needs leaders who can create progress. This nation needs leaders who can create progress.
The people have spoken. Now the real work begins. We hope the work gets done together.
For the Morning Sun
Much is made of whether voters have given a mandate to one party or another. And it’s true, the voters have spoken. But what we, the people, are saying with that collective voice is honestly a bit confusing.
Crawford County voters elected Democratic representatives to the state House for both districts that make up the county. They also voted for a Republican state senator and a Republican U.S. Representative.
On a national scale, the country is inconsistent. A Democratic-controlled Senate and President must deal with a Republican-controlled House.
But perhaps the message delivered by the voters is not that they want one party in control or that they side with any one particular ethos. Perhaps the message is that a mixed government is preferred by the voters.
That way, neither party is given the excess of complete control of local or federal government. State government is a different issue, as conservative Republicans now have the opportunity to do as they wish with the ability to overrule objections by moderates or Democrats. But they still have to work upward and downward in order to help the people of Southeast Kansas and the state as a whole.
Here’s an example of how cooperation will be needed: President Obama has said he would like to use the savings from ending the wars in Asia to reinvest in America’s infrastructure, which could mean construction on highways and aging buildings. If money is going to be available for highways on a federal level, we can think of a few projects in Southeast Kansas that are just waiting on money. But that can’t take place if the conservative Republican-controlled state government isn’t willing to work with Democrats.
Likewise, if our local elected state representatives (Grant and Menghini) are going to find success and progress, they will have to find ways to work together with the politically opposite state senator (LaTurner) to build a coalition that can not only be heard, but can improve the health and economy of the people of this county and region. One place Democrats could start is to accept that they don’t have the power to overrule Brownback’s state tax cuts and to instead offer ways to make up the $328 million state budget deficit projected for the next fiscal year.
Compromise is a dirty word in politics, but it doesn’t have to be. There are real differences between the parties and certainly there are limits to how far each is willing to go. But we wait for the leaders that slice through the Gordian Knot of a political impasse and find solutions that are beneficial for all.
This county needs leaders who can create progress. This state needs leaders who can create progress. This nation needs leaders who can create progress.
The people have spoken. Now the real work begins. We hope the work gets done together.
For the Morning Sun
