Missouri Republicans are paralyzed. The House leadership refused to even consider funding COVID-19 relief before adjourning for an unpredictable period. Not a surprise.
Nationally, the Republican party has become captive to Trump and the most extreme and partisan among the party. This is painfully apparent even to people, like me, who are stridently partisan.
Missouri has a long history of being a moderate state. We have long elected leaders from both political parties even to the point of having Governors and Lieutenant Governors of opposite parties. But this new unprecedented health crisis reveals what happens when the political pendulum swings too far in one direction.
Missouri has a long history of being a moderate state. We have long elected leaders from both political parties even to the point of having Governors and Lieutenant Governors of opposite parties. But this new unprecedented health crisis reveals what happens when the political pendulum swings too far in one direction.
One result is paralysis.
Few political leaders like making unpopular or, in many cases, even controversial decisions.
I witnessed this firsthand in Jefferson City where I served as State Rep from 2003 to 2011. This coincided with the shift from Democrat to Republican control.
I witnessed this firsthand in Jefferson City where I served as State Rep from 2003 to 2011. This coincided with the shift from Democrat to Republican control.
Republicans took over the House the day I was first sworn in. During and since, my service there the ratio among the 163 members steadily changed to the point that today we are governed by a veto proof Republican super majority that has resulted in the present paralysis.
We have seen what happens with a super majority running the show. We witness that majority shamelessly doing things like trying to undo the Clean Missouri provisions along with other blatant policies that openly defy what is clearly the will of Missouri voters.
My favorite anecdote to explain how politicians behave (yes, I will say it, from both parties) is to compare them to tropical fish in a tank. When a person taps on the glass and waves a hand they all flee to the opposite side. This is what happens when difficult decisions have to be made. Most politicians flee from the heat and look frantically for a solution that they feel will insulate them from criticism from what may be unpopular actions.
My favorite anecdote to explain how politicians behave (yes, I will say it, from both parties) is to compare them to tropical fish in a tank. When a person taps on the glass and waves a hand they all flee to the opposite side. This is what happens when difficult decisions have to be made. Most politicians flee from the heat and look frantically for a solution that they feel will insulate them from criticism from what may be unpopular actions.
I served with Governor Mike Parson in the House. We worked closely together and, at the risk of criticism of my many liberal friends, will tell you I like him. He is a good and well-meaning man and while we seldom agreed on policy we were able to work well together.
But Parson is like most politicians in that he fears criticism and has a fierce need to be popular. He is captive to the extreme super majority we have created in this state. Thus, we remained paralyzed in this time of crisis. So we are led by a school of guppies who fear to deal with issues like funding the crisis, quarantines, and stay at home orders lest the extremists in their party criticize them and they lose popularity.
Ingrid and her House colleagues in the micro minority of Dems in the House are doing a great job of pointing out the problems they have with the super majority of guppies who remain paralyzed in this epic time that calls for decisive leadership. I pray we may restore some balance to our State soon.
Former State Rep John Burnett is the spouse of Representative Ingrid Burnett. Both have long been in public service and for a time served simultaneously when she was on the Kansas City School Board while his was in the House. Neither is known for avoiding controversy or seeking shelter from difficult political decisions.
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