Published: June 29, 2009 12:30 pm      

CHRISTY: Steps toward recovery

It’s getting very old having to read about the deplorable condition of our state government. Trust me, its getting old having to write about it.

There are so many issues of concern to our residents — residents of the highest taxed municipality in the entire nation — that require our focus. But the self-inflicted meltdown of our state Senate, and the inept position of our back-up governor, continue to need our attention.

The situation in the state Senate is as close as possible to a hostage situation; just because we’re tired of it doesn’t mean the situation is any less dire. We cannot take our focus off such a serious situation.

When it comes to our state representatives, particularly our state senators, we’ve hit bottom. The only people that argue against that statement are those that predict it can get worse. We have to hope those predictions are wrong, and this is the worst group of elected officials in the long and storied history of our once-great state. If we are ever to begin the healing process, and take steps toward recovery, the first step is always admitting our faults.

State officials need expert advice on how to begin the healing process. Advice from someone who’s walked the same path; someone who has had experience in stopping personal decline. Where, oh where could they ever find objective, professional advice? Wouldn’t the cost be too much to bear for our already bankrupt state?

Thankfully such advice is the most prevalent and inexpensive commodity on Earth. The salvation of New York can be found in every constituent’s face and heart and home. Personal demons are a part of everyone who’s ever walked the earth. And the solution for getting out of personal decline is always the same: admitting you have a problem and asking for help. Such advice is not only prevalent, it’s free.

How can you figure out whether the state Senate crisis is over, and we’re headed at least towards mediocrity, if not full recovery? When you hear a state senator say “I’m the problem; I’ve got to stop thinking only of myself, of my blind lust for power and greed; I’ve got to remember who I was when I got into this business, and start caring about people again.” If you hear any other reason given, you know you’re still dealing with an addict; you’re still listening to a very hurt, scared little child who hasn’t come to grips with the big picture.

If you’re going to become part of the solution, you have got to check your own response to the question, also. No addict has ever gotten better by someone berating them, laughing at them, or judging them personally. According to the experts, your own reaction should be to simply smile, take a step back, and move along. When the answer is anything except “This is all my fault and I’m not sure how to fix things,” you are not dealing with a rational person. No amount of anger or finger-pointing will help this person. You are wasting your time and probably losing a friend in the process. Walk away, hope they see the light soon, and if they don’t, your best method to help them out is to vote them out of office. The job has become too much for them anyway, and it’s simply adding to their personal problems. Just like giving an alcoholic another drink, giving anyone connected with the ongoing Albany meltdown more excuses is not helping them.

Being an elected official is not rocket science; nearly anyone — no I take that back — anyone can do it. I’m not saying it’s easy. There are long hours away from home and there is a toll on your health and family relationships. But while its not easy in that regard, the rest is simple. Don’t believe the addict when they say they are the only ones who feel this pain; they are the only ones that can solve our problems; they are the only ones that know the answers, and the rest of us just don’t know what they’re dealing with. That’s an addict talking, and you need to take the addiction away from them.

This is a crucial time for us. Unlike Bruce Springsteen’s world, our highways are jammed with moving vans headed out of town and garbage trucks coming from all over New York to our landfills. We simply repair our roads enough to move people out and hazardous garbage in. Pay attention to the language of those addicted to elective office. Lend a hand if you can; take action at the voting booth if your help is being rejected. Be strong; they need your help now more than ever.

Tom Christy is the founder of FAIR Government, a non-political and non-editorial educational foundation dealing with local government issues. www.fair-government.org.He encourages communication and can be reach via e-mail at aim1986@mac.com.