Upshur County's Affinity for Republicanism
http://www.allburghers.com/articles/18/1/Upshur-Countys-Affinity-for-Republicanism/Page1.html
Damon Cater
This above all things, to thine own self be true.
By Damon Cater
Published on 03/23/2007
Reflections on John Warner's recent editorial comments in the Charleston Gazette.
Why is Upshur County Republican?
I read with great interest John Warner's self examination method of trying to define the difference between right leaning voters and politicians and left leaning citizens in the same categories. We are fortunate to have Mr. Warner with us, here in our humble little burgh, and the Charleston Gazette is wise to print his commentary for the entire state to read and contemplate. I have enjoyed at least a couple of conversations with him regarding politics and the state of affairs in American society. His conclusions represent, to me at least, a very accurate representation of the difference between the right and left. My question is, why does Upshur County lean right?
I think the answer lies in a comment that I recently heard from one of President Bush's appointees. John Bolton, the notorious never-approved by-senate-confirmation U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, asserted on the Daily Show that the president's duty is to represent the people who voted for him. Not the interest of the United States as a whole, but just those who voted for him.
Doctor Warner draws on historical distinctions of conservatism and liberalism through modern western history. His modern day conclusion rests on two things: the economic perspective of the citizen and compassion for their fellow man. Essentially, if your needs are met, and you are not a very compassionate person, then you are more likely to lean right. I have looked at this argument from all angles,, as my training as a philosopher demands, and find no faults to it. But it still begs the question. If Upshur County is a right leaning, conservative, bastion of Republicanism, in a democratic state mind you, then how does the argument apply.
It is obvious to any person that Upshur County has its fair share of social and economic problems and privileges across the board. So if the argument holds true, that right leaning people are economically well off and not very compassionate, then a right leaning county is probably well off and not very compassionate. Here is where the despotism of Ambassador Bolton plays.
Upshur county is only statistically Republican. Less than half of its eligible citizens are registered voters. Far less as republicans. BUT, the majority of registered voters are Republican. Does the government of Upshur County and Buckhannon represent the county and city or the people that voted it into place? Well... lets examine the compassion side of the question. If one were to eradicate the majority of problems from our community whether it be crime, domestic violence, maladaptive behaviors in our schools, as well as drug and alcohol abuse; two things would need to be addressed. These are poverty, and illiteracy.
I would ask our local government to explain what their plan is, has been or ought to be to address these two plagues. Take away illiteracy and poverty and the rest of the communities woes evaporate like the wind. I cannot think of a single initiative in recent history that the local elected officials have made to tackle these most crippling barriers to wellbeing among our neighbors. So... does the argument hold true? Does our local governent represent the interests of only a minority of well off and not very compassionate citizens in our community? You tell me.
I think the answer lies in a comment that I recently heard from one of President Bush's appointees. John Bolton, the notorious never-approved by-senate-confirmation U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, asserted on the Daily Show that the president's duty is to represent the people who voted for him. Not the interest of the United States as a whole, but just those who voted for him.
Doctor Warner draws on historical distinctions of conservatism and liberalism through modern western history. His modern day conclusion rests on two things: the economic perspective of the citizen and compassion for their fellow man. Essentially, if your needs are met, and you are not a very compassionate person, then you are more likely to lean right. I have looked at this argument from all angles,, as my training as a philosopher demands, and find no faults to it. But it still begs the question. If Upshur County is a right leaning, conservative, bastion of Republicanism, in a democratic state mind you, then how does the argument apply.
It is obvious to any person that Upshur County has its fair share of social and economic problems and privileges across the board. So if the argument holds true, that right leaning people are economically well off and not very compassionate, then a right leaning county is probably well off and not very compassionate. Here is where the despotism of Ambassador Bolton plays.
Upshur county is only statistically Republican. Less than half of its eligible citizens are registered voters. Far less as republicans. BUT, the majority of registered voters are Republican. Does the government of Upshur County and Buckhannon represent the county and city or the people that voted it into place? Well... lets examine the compassion side of the question. If one were to eradicate the majority of problems from our community whether it be crime, domestic violence, maladaptive behaviors in our schools, as well as drug and alcohol abuse; two things would need to be addressed. These are poverty, and illiteracy.
I would ask our local government to explain what their plan is, has been or ought to be to address these two plagues. Take away illiteracy and poverty and the rest of the communities woes evaporate like the wind. I cannot think of a single initiative in recent history that the local elected officials have made to tackle these most crippling barriers to wellbeing among our neighbors. So... does the argument hold true? Does our local governent represent the interests of only a minority of well off and not very compassionate citizens in our community? You tell me.