As I negotiated an extremely hazardous walk over slick, melting ice, which had formed on top of unshoveled downtown sidewalks on my way to Mass, my thoughts turned not to spiritual matters but to a quote by the misanthrope H.L. Mencken, who wrote, “The older I get the more I admire and crave competence, just simple competence, in any field from adultery to zoology.”
I am a conservative. In certain daily endeavors, however, my political leanings have no bearing on my expectations. If I need surgery, I want a competent surgeon. If I need dental work, I want a competent dentist. When I get on an airplane, I want a competent pilot. When I send my children or grandchildren to school, I want a competent teacher. When we choose a mayor, we deserve a competent administrator.
Mayor Dave Bronson may be a conservative; he may be a good husband and father and he may be a good person — I do not know the man. He is, however, an incompetent mayor. He also is responsible for enormous “hidden” tax increases that affect everyone. Unplowed streets tax our time and our ability to get to work. Intersections with ruts and ice increase accidents and vehicle damage and are a tax on our transportation system. Missed doctor appointments are a tax on our health. Closed schools are a tax on our children’s education.
I believe a healthy democracy benefits from conservatives and progressives and liberals freely debating ideas and policies — I urge Anchorage voters in the next mayoral election to put aside their political leanings and to vote for competence over ideology. We deserve better.
— John Clark
Anchorage
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