Accountability

Accountability? It's a nice enough word. When it comes to our government everybody wants it and thinks that it's not only a good thing, but a necessary thing. So, if everybody wants it, why don't we have it? Let's start at the beginning, shall we? What does accountability mean? Webster's gives us this definition:

the quality or state of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions; "public officials lacking accountability"

Isn't it telling that Webster's used that sentence? The reason I don't think we have it in Williamson County is because for too long now, excluding the last election cycle, the Democratic Party in the county had not been a valid alternative. We have not run people in every race. We have not been the presence that we must be in this county. That is changing and with our hard work we will begin to be see that in reality by getting Democrats elected to office.

I bring all this up because I had a discussion with a family member this weekend about politics. They live in Williamson County and consider their political leanings to be more along the lines of a Libertarian. We talked about many, many things and the lack of accountability in our government, not just local but state and federal too, came up many times. Another very good and I think telling point that we talked about was this: I'm already voting for Democrats and none of them are getting elected, what can I do? Keep in mind this is an average person with a busy life. Most people don't have time, not to mention the willingness, to wade through the flood of misinformation in our media to find out what is really going on.

So one of the main questions we have to answer is: How in this unaccountable county that we live in can we get and keep Democrats involved to get some accountability back in our government? The hard part is making people believe that this is essential and that it is worth a little of their time while we try to get some accountability back in our county government? Because let's be honest this county didn't become dominated by that other party over night and we won't be able to kick them out overnight.

I believe that accountability is a theme that crosses party, ideological and even religious lines. Accountability is why the system of checks and balances was created. It's a truly profound American theme. When asked people will opt for it overwhelmingly. We must empower those in Williamson County that believe accountability is not only the legacy of our founders, but essential to the continuation of democracy, to get involved however they can. To take this opportunity and join us in changing the status quo leadership of our county and bringing tough accountability back to our government.

Do you want toll roads as far as the eye can see? Do you want corrupt county officialsthat were involved in scandals to remain in office just because there is no alternative on the ballot? Do you want radical legislators like Rep. Robert Talton to be able to get exclusionary laws like his passed without any scrutiny in the future?

There is a simple way to let people when you speak to them to show a clear difference between Democrats and their opposition. Democrats believe in holding corporations accountable and leaving people's personal lives to themselves. Republicans believe in limiting what you can do in your personal life and allowing corporations to be held disgracefully unaccountable. I wonder how much health care we could buy if those corporations would just pay 10% in taxes? That seems reasonable, doesn't it? I wonder what Mike Krusee, Dan Gattis, Steve Ogden, Sen.'s Cornyn and Hutchison, Gov. Perry and, of course, Congressman Carter think about that ? Accountability you say? Hmm, sounds like a good idea to me.