Grampa sipped his coffee as he sat back down in his chair then he continued;
" Boy, politicians have their beliefs as to how to properly run this country just as you do and just as I do. They have their own beliefs about what the people should be able to expect from the government just as you do and just as I do.
And when they campaign for office they present their ideas in hopes of convincing enough of us voters to agree with him and vote him into office. If voted into office he is expected to carry out the promises made. Are those promises based on the will of the people or of his own conscience? I’d say conscience my self because his opponent also made promises but lost. They both can’t be making promises based upon the people’s will. And if one had the capacity to know the will of the people so did the other.
Another aspect of this same argument comes while in office. Before any bill is voted on there is a debate. A debate by meaning is the art of persuasion. Now any representative who gets up and speaks is doing so to persuade. If the idea of abiding by the will of the people held that speaker would be trying to persuade the people but this is not true. He is there to persuade his fellow representatives who agree with him to stand fast. He is also trying to persuade the others to change their minds and vote with him.
One more aspect of this is a personal one. If I were an elected representative I would prefer to follow my conscience rather than follow the will of the people. I would want to sleep at night at those times my conscience conflicts with the will of the people. My honor, my integrity, and my self-respect would demand it of me.
If the people did not approve of my job they can throw me out of office at the next election if I cannot convince them otherwise. And I cannot justify denying others of the same right of conscience. Remember the foundational basis of our nation is the right to abide by our conscience. Why should we deny some of that right just because he is an elected representative? We elect leaders not followers.
Now, boy, these are just a few of the reasons I choose conscience over the will of the people. I could sit here all night giving you more reasons but you have homework to do so I'll cut it short."
I just sat there and smiled. Knowing grandpa, that last reason was the most important to him. But I kept quiet awaiting him to continue.
WELCOMES YOU to his little home in cyberspace.
Monday, June 11, 2007
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2 comments:
^..^ me too!
I almost made it to the end without commenting, but I do have one more part to read. I feel like pausing, though, because of a statement in this post;
"If voted into office, he is expected to carry out the promises made. Are those promises based on the will of the people or of his own conscience? I'd say conscience, myself, because his opponent also made promises, but lost. They both can't be making promises based upon the people's will. And if one had the capacity to know the will of the people so did the other."
I don't think that the candidates do entirely know the will of the people. It would be possible for both to make promises based on their own perceived will of the people and yet still have different points of view. It is better, though, if a candidate really does believe, in his own conscience, what he claims to believe in.
Your point about persuasion being evidence of voting ones conscience is a good one. Representatives are constantly trying to persuade each other.
And then, of course, your argument that "We elect leaders, not followers."
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