Sole Morality

Save my seat...I might be back

The gist of the story is speculation about how well Sarah Palin, being a sitting governor, could possibly be running Alaska since she has only been in Alaska for three of the last 29 days. I won't disagree. The AP raises a good point. Sarah Palin is being paid to be Alaska's top executive and she is instead out on the campaign trail courting another position...and still being paid to be Alaska's governor.

I don't like that. The AP is on the money in asking about this. Of course, Alaska does have a Lt. Governor tht is able to step in and take care of many of the issues that arise while Gov. Palin is on the road, so it isn't like no one is at the helm. But still, she's being paid to do a job that she isn't doing.

I'm left wondering though, why does the Associated Press only chastize Palin? By all means, note and ask questions, criticize if you must, but let's make sure that everyone gets a chance to see if the shoe fits before you only make one person wear it.

You really have to ask why the AP chose to only focus on her, a VP candidate, and not include, I don't know, maybe the presidential candidates? And what the heck, let's be fair and include the other VP candidate as well.

John McCain, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden are all sitting US Senators. They are being paid to do a job and to represent their constituents as issues and bills are raised in the Senate. Back in July, USA Today did an article that talked about Obama and McCain's voting records. As of that date, Obama had only shown up 12 days in the senate for the entire year as of the date of the article. McCain trails with only 6 showings. The Washington Post tabulates that Obama and McCain have missed 45.9 and 64.1% of their voting opportunities, respectively. Joe Biden isn't far behind at 30.8% of his votes missed.

That is sickening. Sure, the article says that the Senators have staffers who keep an eye on the legislation coming up for votes and inform the Senators so that they can return for issues where their vote could determine the outcome of legislation. And that is good, but they are still getting paid $169,300 a year to apparently only show up for half their votes. And that record of missed votes is only going to increase as the campaigns continue.

I told you this was not about politics...well, not about the politicians or slamming any one candidate. It isn't. It is about the morality in getting paid to do a job that you aren't doing. I can understand getting paid to do a job while you are running for reelection to that very same position. But to get paid to do a job that you largely neglect because of different or higher aspirations is just plain wrong.

I personally think the candidates, if they truly want to show their convictions to good morals and being responsible to those that elect them ought to step up to the plate and resign their current positions in order to run for other offices.

Bob Dole did just that when he ran for the office of President. Some people called it a "stunt" or a grab at attention. Sure, I guess you could see it that way. Other people see it as being responsible. But either way you see it, his constituents weren't denied a senator who was devoted to representing them and not off working on other pursuits.

Attention grabbing or not, responsible or not, I believe that resigning a current elected position when you decide to run elsewhere is the moral thing to do.

Do you?