"No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." (James 3:8)
Inflammatory rhetoric and hurtful words are nothing new. In recent political campaigns, such words have come forth on behalf of people whom I suspect would never dream of making such distasteful, unsubstantiated allegations either face-to-face or in a business or social setting.
The resulting animosity is neither healthy for crafting sound policy nor an invitation to broad participation and consensus. So why does this practice continue? The short answer -- it works. The ever-increasing role of government in our economic and social lives means the stakes in election outcomes are likewise ever-increasing. The obsessive need to win elections at all costs, and resulting dissemination of increasingly vitriolic rhetoric, may be creating a toxic political environment. Have we created a place where ethical behavior, honesty, and common courtesy are abandoned by otherwise good and thoughtful people? Can a demand for ethical accountability and moral standards bring us back a measure of civil discourse?
Alaskans know that ethics self-policing doesn't always work. A few years ago several lawmakers became lawbreakers and ended up in prison. The body politic was disgusted as wink-and-a-nod ethics law enforcement (or, more accurately, non-enforcement) led to ever-increasing boldness of misconduct until some finally went too far. This may have been avoided had legislators taken greater heed of their oath of office and statutory responsibilities:
Elected officials have a solemn duty to serve the public interest rather than a personal allegiance or political alliance. But high-sounding words without consequence have proven hollow. When misconduct occurs, public officials need to act.
Alaska's campaign ethics laws are not unique, difficult to understand or adhere to. Basically, they amount to ...
- Don't lie.
- Don't use government resources for private benefit or campaigning.
- Don't make public statements that are not documented and relevant.
- Comply with the Legislative Standards of Conduct Handbook.
Requiring colleagues to comply need not be complicated or excessively confrontational. Private discussions and/or correspondence can resolve most unintentional violations. As a last resort, if the concerns expressed privately are ignored, a formal ethics complaint process is available.
In Alaska, where all political power is inherent in the people (Alaska Constitution, Article One), we depend upon the ethical judgment of our representatives. Holding elected officials accountable for following the law and meeting minimum ethical standards is not political theatre used to achieve "gotcha" points in some kind of "Catch Me If You Can" game (ADN Compass, Dec. 27). It is the minimum expectation necessary to ensure free and fair elections.
The 27th Legislature's commitment to that goal will be tested when the House Majority appoints a representative to the Ethics Committee to judge and provide ethics advice to colleagues. Rep. Bob Lynn, the only legislator currently under ethics monitoring by the Ethics Committee Administrator, has asked to be appointed.
Rep. Lynn was the only member of the legislature who, to gain an advantage during the 2010 election, chose to unapologetically violate several well-known and long-established campaign ethics laws overseen by the Committee. Rep. Lynn's appointment would set a terrible precedent. It would also send the wrong message to Alaskans and be a slap in the face to all candidates, winning and losing, past and future, who judiciously follow the spirit and letter of ethics law and acknowledge and apologize for, rather than trivialize, any violations.
Our political environment might improve markedly if our elected officials also review, and take heed of, the most authoritative Ethics Code ever written. As honesty is a handmaiden to ethical conduct, they can start by reading Deuteronomy 5:20.
Steve Pratt is a long-time South Anchorage resident who lost the 2010 District 31 Republican primary to Rep. Bob Lynn, whose campaign was subsequently found to have violated several campaign ethics laws. Mr. Pratt's opinions are his own. Alaska Dispatch welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, e-mail editor(at)alaskadispatch.com.