Shifting Sands

There’s an old saying in politics, if you want a friend get a dog.

Three months before the 1960 presidential election between Vice President Richard Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy, outgoing President Eisenhower was asked at a press conference if he could name one initiative proposed by his fellow Republican Nixon that was enacted during the eight-year years of his administration.

He replied, "If you give me a week I might think of one".

History is replete with examples of public unrest between political teammates. It’s the nature of the business. One reason is because political parties are comprised of individuals with different ideologies and agendas. The intent of democracy is that at the end of the day those differences can be balanced to create public policies that benefit all, not just some.

And I’ll be honest, regular readers of my column have certainly noted the unmistakable frustration in my voice about the failures of my political team. Specifically, the failure to recognize a fair balance and their continued reluctance to make the difficult decisions we know must be made.

During my years as a legislator and now as one of 620,000 Alaskans that don’t serve in Juneau, I’ve spoken consistently about the single greatest threat to the economic well being and stability of our state, the fiscal gap. It’s been a frustrating gig.

Regardless of your political persuasion, solving the fiscal gap has always been about one thing, stability. Whether you’re a multi-national corporation, a senior at Dimond High School or a senior Alaskan at the Pioneers Home, stability is an essential element for continued success. State government needs no less.

On March 21, 2000 I stood with a few of my colleagues including Gail Phillips and Lisa Murkowski, to hold a press conference drawing attention to the lack of legislative action to address the fiscal gap. A reporter asked if what we we’re saying was politically risky. "If the wheels come off in four years, you’ll remember this day, the seven of us standing up here saying we should be doing something", was my quote printed on the front page the following morning.

Next session will mark the four-year anniversary of that press conference and there is no doubt that the wheels are coming off. Harsh budget cuts threatened by the Governor are ill advised and will only exacerbate a struggling economy. And next year not only will the legislature be forced to enact a broad based tax, but also seriously consider using a significant amount of permanent fund earnings to pay for government.

You might now begin to understand the frustration I have with the performance of my team. Especially considering they’ve had ample opportunity to balance the budget and strengthen the economy for the last eight years, but haven’t.

And if some Republicans now choose to label it a wake up call for all Alaskans, it’s only because they’ve been asleep at the wheel for years.
The wonderful thing about living in a democracy though is that voters, once confronted with the unavoidable repercussions of the legislatures inaction may have the desire for change. And I have no doubt things will get better.

Recently, while attending a management course, a man who has spent his entire career studying public policy shared with me an intriguing philosophy. Dan Fenn, a professor and lecturer, took me aside after a class to share with me his theory on how changes occur in our democracy.

Public policy is like a teeter-totter he said, with a fifty five-gallon barrel on either end. One barrel is empty. The other barrel is full of sand weighting it down to one side. Slowly but surely, people will pass by one by one and toss a grain of sand in the empty barrel, until after awhile the balance will shift. And the first response from those who haven’t been paying attention will be, boy that was sudden.

So until then, I’ll just keep tossing grains of sand in the barrel while continuing to enjoy the friendship of my dog Sherman.