Letter: Elitism, a plague on representative government

Also published in the News Review.

There is a natural inclination in the human mind to assume that personal success is the result of an advanced intellect, and while intelligence is often a contributing factor, it is most often not the main reason for social ascent.

If you consider yourself to be a “successful” person and you disagree with this statement, you are probably an elitist… and if you are an elected official, you are a plague on representative government, and an enemy of “we the people.” In fact, I would assert that a “successful” politician is much like a “successful” used car salesman (and IQ has nothing to do with it). It’s all about “being believable” and establishing “a sense of trust.” In other words, you need to have a good line of BS. That is what sells the used car… and that is what gets you re-elected.

And that is what most elected-officials mistake for intelligence. They have discovered the ability to created advantageous story-lines like “this car was owned by a widowed school-teacher who only drove it to church on Sundays,” or “I married my high-school sweetheart, and after working in the timber-industry for a few years, I decided to devote my life to public-service.”

“And by the way,” they say, “if you have any problems, I’ll always be here for you… at your service” (but in reality, they view us as rubes).

Recently, our Republican legislators failed us in Salem. We encouraged and supported “the walkout,” and they kept us informed. They made us feel included in the decision-making process… until the final moment… the one that really counted. And then, they cut the deal with the Dems (knowing that we would object) and tried to “put lipstick on the pig.”

Should we re-elect these elitists?

Todd Vaughn

Tiller