Recountings from the County - The Convention takes over
Well, time to yet again talk about the "goings on" here in Belknap County from a Republican standpoint. No, not necessarily THE Republican, but one that looks at what is happening during the budget season, looks at what the Republicans on the Convention are doing (re: NH House Representatives that are from Belknap County), and measures the quality of their voting.
Measuring? Yup. Got a measuring stick too - it's called the Party Platform. For some Republicans that may be in the dark (or wish to ignore its existence), it outlines what Republicans believe in. Constructed by Republicans, modified by Republicans, and voted upon by Republicans. In manufacturing or engineering circles, it would be called the quality standard. In those two disciplines (and others as well), standards are set (e.g., to be compliant and meet the standard, a part or a task must meet certain criteria (min/max, for instance, for physical characteristics such as tensile strength, size, weight, electrical parameters, time to process, scrap rates, et al). There is no reason in the world that if one proclaims to adhere to a given philosophy that one cannot be held accountable for their actions vis-a-vis that philosophy.
Otherwise, why bother (except for self-aggrandizement)?
So, what are the standards, and what have the actions been as the Convention members have been reviewing the County Budget? Have the Republicans shown the public that their actions reflect what they say they believe in? Well, here are the some of the main Republican platform ideals that apply here:
- individual liberty
- personal responsibility
- limited government
- limited spending
- limited taxes
Well, as one can see from earlier Recountings, the Republican Commissioners started out very well indeed with the all important question "What is the proper role of government"? and in these tough economic times, decided to really stand by the philosophy of a more limited government - doing those things that it is mandated to do (e.g., Sheriff, Nursing Home, Corrections). They made a big splash of saying "all other things are 'extras' - they are not within the proper role County funded activities". As we all now know, Bud Martin out flanked them in the media, out manovered them organizationally, and out led them in their own meeting. Result? They caved and put ALL of the outside agencies back in with just a couple of exceptions.
Good start, horrible execution, and (sad to say) embarrasing ending. Doing as they first declared would have shrunk the size of County Government (limited government), a decrease in the cost of government (limited spending), resulting in less (in this time of economic downturn) taxes having to be raised by the taxpayers (limited taxes).
And for those Liberals that are just SHOCKED that government might not be able to take care of PEOPLE if they did that, my reaction is the same I have been saying for a while: WHY does it have to be Government? Go back a ways, and it used to be families, friends, neighbors, and volunteer charities that used to do the work that is now professionalized. So, by limiting government, it increases individual liberties (you and your neighbors don't have to scramble financially as much, which is one measure of liberty) and should grow personal responsibility.
Yes, personal responsibility! It is all too easy to say "hey, the government is taking care of it - I know because my taxes keep going up!" By limiting government, as Dr. Brooks of Syracuse University found out in "Who Gives More?", we would not be able to slough off that responsibility to those around us.
But I digress; I've laid out the standards; how are our Republican Reps doing in putting philosophy into action?
Citizen (1/24): The SubCommittee responsible - Juvenile Restorative Justice. Back in to the budget?
- Yes - Don Flanders(R), Liz Merry(D), Dennis Field(R), Steve Nedeau(R), Jeffrey St. Cyr (R)
- No - Fran Wendelboe (R)
Citizen (1/24): The SubCommittee responsible - Belknap County Economic Development Council. Back into the Budget?
Yes - Judy Reever (D), Dennis Field (R), Richard Stuart (D), Kate Miller (D), Don Flanders (R)
Republicans motioning to put the additional funds back into the budget. Only one, Fran Wendelboe, taking the action to limit the growth of Government.
Result? More Government. More taxes to support the expenses of that larger government.
Next, the "outside agencies" - the ones that were cut from the budget by the Commissioners and then added back in by the cowed Commissioners. So, what did the Convention members do?
Citizen (1/27): The SubCommittee responsible - Outside Agencies. To put back Genesis
- Yes - Peter Bolster (R), Bill Johnson (D), Liz Merry (D), Judy Reever (D),
- No - Laurie Boyce (R), Elaine Swinford (R)
Two Republicans stood up for Republican principles.
Other stuff has been put back in - but there are either no individual Press Reports or Minutes for the votes.
