Principled Politics

The presidential campaign 2012 in the United States dispels some common misconceptions in Africa about public policy and political strategy

For example there is the myth that if one benefits from a policy, one should support it; and vice-versa, if one does not support a policy one should not try to benefit from it once it is instituted.

The story is told of a ruler in a far, far away land who drafted a nepotism policy that would give scholarships to all students in a selected high school, knowing well that eighty percent of the students in that institution were close relatives. The law passed in parliament despite fierce opposition from a congressman who believed that the policy was unfair and anti-competition.

However, the congressman’s son was among the twenty percent who attended that school, and therefore qualified for the scholarship as well.

The question then was, should the congressman’s son take the scholarship or not?

The myth says, if he does he’s a hypocrite and as guilty as the nepotist. But Mitt says, “Attacking me does not make a policy”!

Mitt Romney’s point is echoed by Jack DeWitt whose company received millions from the Obama stimulus program, but urged his employees to vote against President Obama.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/jack-dewitt-mitt-romney_n_2017539.html

Asking Mitt Romney to keep his companies in America is not a policy; rather, creating business-friendly conditions for the Mitt Romneys of America to keep their companies within would be a policy.

Consider also former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s recent endorsement of President Obama. The long time republican has twice supported the democratic candidate. Put in the historical context of the 2008 presidential elections, Colin Powell’s endorsement of candidate Obama was a bridge that would unite a divided country. However, put in the economic context of the 2012 elections, Colin Powell’s endorsement of President Obama is a sharp departure from republican economic principles.

The question is how long has former Secretary Colin Powell held his economic views that are now so different from mainstream republican economic plans? How long can an individual hold his/her dissenting views before expressing them publicly?

The myth in a far, far away land says that a covert opposition is an effective political strategy. Pretenders to the ruler’s throne should not express their dissenting views until they ascend to the throne. But republican Senator John McCain and former New Hampshire Governor John Sununu say that the principle of loyalty is still the name of the game. Oppose early or agree to the end. Do not hold back your fire, it doesn’t help democracy.