Carol Becker wrote:
<It sometimes seems that some folks believe that elected officials by virtue
of their position don't even deserve basic respect. And when we treat
elected officials like that, it allows us to depersonalize and dehumanize
them, making them into some monolithic force instead of a group of folks,
each with their own strengths and weaknesses, who are doing their best to
better Minneapolis. All I'm asking for is that everyone treat everyone else
with respect and decency.>
I argue, that higher levels of respect must be earned by people in positions
of leadership. It is not the office one holds that makes the decision, but
the individual. We can all respect the office and still hold the individuals
accountable and criticize/praise their personal decisions. In fact, we need
to.
Are they doing their best to better Minneapolis? Let's see, fees are going up
and services are being cut. Corporations are being funded and schools are
being underfunded. etc...... If they legislate for corporations or other
entities instead of families and citizens, they should be viewed as a
monolithic force. I think we all have our own opinions about elected
officers and their performance, and should express them. (Criticisms of
their professional record are hardly personal, even if their performance
record makes somebody sick. Calling someone ugly is a personal attack.)
It's obvious that different people have different ideas about what kind of
criticisms are personal or not. However, it comes with the territory.
Elected officials know what they are opening themselves up to when they
decide to run for public office. If they can't take the heat, they should
get out of the kitchen!
Wade Russell
longfellow
