Professor Elam

Monday Feb 8 2010

We made the point yesterday that eventually leaders get themselves into trouble by failing to emulate William B Travis right here in San Antonio. Travis is said to have drawn a Line in the Sand with his sword. Those staying or leaving had to get on one side of the line or the other. Say what you will, it is an effective metaphor. 

How bad are things getting?  It seems that Nevada could lay off every single state employee, and the budget would still be in the red!  So expect draconian measures to come in that state first. 

It was only  a few years back that California gave then Governor Gray Davis the boot, recalled him, voted him out, Davis was stunned, claiming that he should be retained given his 'experience' a unique platform in deed. Arnold Schwarzenegger ran and was elected among considerable expectations. Here was a self made immigrant from Austria, wealthy from his movies, married to a Kennedy (Maria Shriver), who promised to be the Governator.  There was even talk that this would cause a few reporters to show up in Sacramento. 

At that point there was even disappointment that Arnold could not run for President as a foreign born citizen. 

Gee what a difference a few years make!  Now California is among the top ten worst debt bets in the world. There are daily television shows about its plight. Its debt is barely above junk rating. My point is this. Arnold got to Sacramento and tried change, like re districting. It did not work and he was opposed every step of the way. Well, it would have been better to just say no, refuse to sign the budget busting spending bills, and perhaps lose to a bigger spender, just to be able to say, well I told you so. As it is, what does this former well regarded movie star have to show for his foray into politics?  A mess, that's what. A formerly principled person brought down but the usual inside the beltway tax and spend thinking. Considering Arnold hardly needs the job, well, what was he thinking?

Travis died for his beliefs. George Washington served without pay during the Revolutionary War and returned his commission at the War's End. Harry Truman returned to Missouri with no more money than he had when he went into the White House. Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the House, paid his own way to Panama on a fact finding trip while in office. Lines in the Sand……An ethical person knows how to act and does not do so based on the circumstances.