John W. Carlin and Civic Leadership
Join the Conversation:
  • Home
  • About John
  • Blog
  • Leading and Learning Moments
  • Leader Corner
  • Resources
    • Feedback

Elections Do Have Consequences 

4/23/2015

4 Comments

 
It has been said many times and by many folks that “elections have consequences.” It is my belief that we are seeing proof of that more clearly today than maybe ever before. Certainly what is going on at the Capitol building in Kansas is evidence of such consequences. But, whether that is understood beyond the hired lobbyists or those directly connected to the session is the question of the day. Does “Jane or John Q Citizen” see the connection between her or his vote last November and how their representative and senator are voting on the many significant issues facing our state today?  

Connecting those dots is not always easy for busy, responsible Kansans who have many important things to do other than follow the day-to-day political maneuvering in Topeka. It has been clear for several years that we have a significant number of legislators who have limited appreciation for the value of strong public education at all levels or the harm of delaying maintenance on our highway infrastructure, for instance. Of course, it is their right to think this. Many of them also think, not surprisingly, that given the recent election results, they have a mandate from the Kansas citizens to act accordingly.

In reality, I suspect that many hardworking Kansans cast their votes to re-elect their incumbent legislators not realizing that their incumbent’s votes don’t necessarily represent what they would like to see happen. This disconnect is precisely what I’m getting at, and my message to my fellow Kansans is simple: talk to your legislators now. They will be back in Topeka next week with some of the most critical days of the legislative session lying ahead. They need to know that Kansans care about issues like public education and understand that having a fair and balanced tax mix is really what’s best for the state. They need your gentle reminder that voters understand, perhaps better each day, that elections do have consequences and their votes during the remainder of this session will carry significant consequences as well.
4 Comments
Bradford W. Davenport
4/24/2015 05:52:40 am

I so agree with what you say. What bothers me more than anything is the %50 of Kansans that did not bother to vote at all. If this group of apathetic citizens would get off their lazy rear ends and do the right thing, I believe our representation would be much more in line with the hopes and needs of our state. I wish that there was a way of forcing or rewarding people to vote.

Reply
lillian moss jeno
4/26/2015 12:58:39 am

I remember walking the fairgrounds with you in 1980.Had such faith in our state and after moving back from Texas keep wondering why. They still in Topeka don't really know there is anything west of 81 highway. Remember Ernie Kissick and John Becker.

Reply
Paula Sayles
4/26/2015 08:39:17 am

While it is true that more people should come out to vote, don't you think that gerrymandered districts have contributed to voter apathy in that voters who have turned out in the past no longer trust that their vote will matter? What can be done about gerrymandering? What can be done to ensure the voting public that their votes are being accurately counted?

Reply
Cody Rajtar
4/27/2015 04:16:06 am

The problem with politics in this country is simple: politicians don't know how politics work. I'll give an example, the voter's of Wichita voted to reduce the penalties on marijuana, but the AG thinks he know better than the will of the people. THAT'S NOT HOW POLITICS WORK. the people vote for something and the politicians make it so, that is how it works. We the people do not care what your personal beliefs are as a politician, we care that you do your job as an elected official, are you against marijuana? vote against it, but if you lose you don't get to change it until you get your way.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    John W. Carlin​—​61st Speaker of the Kansas House, 40th Governor of Kansas, 8th Archivist of the United States, and student of leadership

    Categories

    All
    Agriculture
    Budgets And Taxation
    Capital Punishment
    China
    Civic Engagement
    Drinking Age
    Education
    Election 2016
    Election 2018
    Election 2020
    Election 2022
    Election 2024
    Environment
    Health Care
    Higher Education
    Historical Perspective
    Infrastructure
    Judicial System
    Leadership
    LGBTQ Rights
    National Archives
    Research
    Teaching

    Facebook

    John W. Carlin

    Twitter

    Tweets by @johnwcarlin

    Subscribe

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed