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February 07, 2004
A Real Shame
An article about a local election coming up in my home town reminded me again why I'm opposed to term limits........besides believing that if people are stupid enough to keep elected bad people, they deserve what they get.
The District 90 House of Representatives (Madison, Newton & part of Searcy county) seat is up for grabs this year because the current Rep., Mike Hathorn, is ineligible to run again due to term limits. Rep. Hathorn is, IMO, what we call down home a 'fine feller'. [Disclaimer: my daughter is good friends with his wife, whom she met while they were both in nursing school.] Young, energetic, smart as a whip....and passionate about good government. I've attended a couple of lectures he's given at legal seminars, and was quite impressed. And if there ever was a district that needed a good, progressive, intelligent representative, my old home town is it. But we're losing this one. And here's what's running so far as his replacement.
Roy Ragland, whom I have known for most of my life. A "pastor and cattle rancher". *ahem* Yeah, that's two of the things I'd call him, though I would add a few adjectives....like 'smarmy', 'unctious', 'too lazy to hit a lick at a snake'. You get the picture. He's the type of person that makes you want to take a shower after talking with him for a few minutes.
A common opinion of him is that he got the 'calling' to become a preacher because a)he's in love with sound of his own voice, and b)it's a great scam to make money without working for it. So becoming a politician is a natural step for him.
But he's also the type of person that is only interested in what's good for that district if it's also good for him. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. Don't believe me? Spend a few minutes talking to him, you'll see what I mean. Or look at the fact that he's raised $4,000 so far for a campaign for a vacant seat for which he has no opponent.
Yep. He's running unapposed, which is almost enough to make me move back home & run for the office myself.
Trust me. That's pretty bad.
Posted by Rita at February 7, 2004 08:43 AM
Comments
"Make where you are, the place to be." Your last two sentences were presented humorously, but they might be closer to a personal truth than you realize. You are passionate about the place where you were born and raised, and the thought of it being contaminated by a self-serving pretender stimulates you to be vividly expressive. Following that through -- you should have the position (and might, in a convoluted way, have an obligation. Who is at fault when a crowd allows the least able among them, to lead them somewhere?). Take the plunge and become a decision maker in your region of the world. It deserves a thoughtful caretaker, and for some reason, I feel inclined to think that you need a region to take care of.
Posted by: kenneth at February 7, 2004 04:25 PM
I'm with Kenneth. Go for it.
And I too am not fond of term limits.
Posted by: Andy at February 7, 2004 05:48 PM
I don't think either Mike or I are ready for "Mrs. Smith Goes to Little Rock"....and neither is the state legislature. Besides, I'm not much on ass-kissing.
Posted by: Rita at February 7, 2004 11:09 PM