Bob Logue

Stagnation Without Representation

When people become disillusioned by oppressive and unresponsive government, and feel incapable of changing it, they vote with their feet. Over the centuries, frustrated, restive citizenry in various parts of the world have relocated, seeking better conditions. Often government officials are happy to see them go because these individuals are the ‘troublemakers’ who have had the courage to challenge their government.

The pilgrims and other immigrants did it. Today we have the current flight of people from one county to another within Pennsylvania, and the relocation of those moving out of Pennsylvania to another state.

We are reaping the fruits of decades of unresponsive Pennsylvania government. Gerrymandering of electoral districts has created ‘safe districts’—heavily Republican or heavily Democrat—which almost assures incumbent re-election. More than 95% of incumbents win deservedly or not. Financial control by party leadership means only the chosen ones win. Common citizens without the backing of the kingmakers have little chance of unseating one of the Lords or Ladies.

Control of government funds to be dispersed to legislators for their districts’ pet projects—worthy or not-- is one of the hammers that keeps the party faithful in line. “Vote as we want you to,” the rank and file legislator is told by the legislative leadership, or we will see to it that you get little or nothing for your district and lousy committee assignments.”

Leadership of their own party will ostracize and work to defeat any maverick legislator through redistricting, or outright campaigns against the independent thinker in a future election. Without referendum or recall, Pennsylvania voters have little chance of influencing their state government and even less chance of changing it. As that hopelessness and the unresponsiveness of their state government is increasingly evident, people begin to look for alternatives.

The governor and legislative leadership simply don’t care what Pennsylvanian’s think. Good ideas could never come from the great unwashed masses, could they?

Worse yet, the governor and legislative leaders seem to resent that anyone outside their closed circle would have the audacity to make demands on their elected officials. One legislative leader told a delegation of citizens— when asked to just permit the citizens to vote yes or no on a constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes on primary residences— “We don’t want the people to vote on that, and I have no intention to allowing your legislation to be discussed in my committee.” Translated: We are the Lords and Ladies, and you are the peasant, be nice citizens and stay out of government affairs.

And, so Allegheny County residents and others who are tired of the harassment of constant assessments and reassessments, and ever increasing property tax bills on their primary residences, are relocating out of the county to nearby counties where taxes are lower. Others, disgusted with our closed-circle state government that cares nothing about the wishes and needs of the common citizens, are fleeing the state---or refusing to relocate here in the first place.

Stagnation without representation simply means Pennsylvania is reaping a harvest of weeds that has been sewn over the decades by manipulation of our governmental system to the benefit of those in power and to the exclusion of the common citizens. –Bob Logue

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