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A Lesson before the Eilat Municipal Elections.
By Helen
Point 1. We define ourselves as living in a democracy. Now let's understand what is the definition of DEMOCRACY. According to the Oxford Dictionary, democracy is government of the people, by the people, usually through elected representatives to ensure the equality of rights in society.
Point 2. Anyone considering entering the local (or regional or national) political arena should be aware from the outset that, if elected, their official status is ‘Public Servant'. In other words, they are being taken on trust that they will faithfully carry out their moral public obligations, and serve the populous in a decent, trustworthy manner, as they no doubt claimed they would in their pre-election campaigns.
Point 3. Whilst anyone elected to public office is entitled to be paid for their time and efforts, election success is NOT a license to print money. Neither should election success be seen and used as an effort to ‘line one's own pockets'.
Point 4. As defined in Point 1, the electorate, (the people that vote) must be seen and treated as equals, with each and every one having the same opportunities and benefits to succeed. Democracy and cronyism/nepotism can NEVER coexist!
Point 5. The existing prevalent theory of ‘in order to succeed, you have to pay off the right people' is abhorrent and disgusting. The only time this should enter life is if your plans are immoral, illegal or unethical!
Point 6. Only when we, the public, are prepared to make our voices heard, will our elected officials start to wake up. Remember, these people have volunteered themselves, and accepted a job. We employ them, we pay their wages through our municipal taxes. Therefore as with any employee, if they do not carry out their duties in a satisfactory manner, they can be dismissed. These people are not G-ds. They are and must be held accountable for their actions or inactions.
Point 7. Our elected officials are entrusted to care for OUR welfare and living environment. We have a right to expect them to make decisions that protect our standard of living, not jeopardize our lives for the benefit of commercial entities that have no duty of care towards the electorate.
Point 8. We have been given a complete set of rules by which we should conduct our affairs. These rules are the 10 Commandments. An old fashioned idea for sure, but a proven method of conduct. Maybe our elected officials should be made to sit down and read these properly before each municipal and committee meeting, just to remind themselves that they are not exempt from these laws.
Point 9. Our elected officials, like each of us, can lie to, dupe and hoodwink just about any one, with two notable exceptions. They cannot lie to G-d and the face that looks back at them when they look in a mirror!
Point 10. Remember, to err is human. We all make mistakes, it is our nature. But the important thing is to admit our mistakes and learn from them. Our pride very often makes it difficult to own up to having made an error, yet when we do, we are usually surprised and humbled by the forgiveness that is the usual result. People are much less forgiving when they realize they have not been given the truth!
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