Our political system is sound, but the political climate is a concern

By Andy McKean

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I was 29 and full of youthful enthusiasm when I was first elected state representative in 1978. I viewed public service as a noble undertaking and considered it a privilege to have the opportunity to work for a better Iowa.

Iowa's first elderly abuse legislation, ground water protection, the elimination of the inheritance tax for children and grandchildren, and tougher drunk-driving laws were legislative successes I had a direct hand in. I also learned that progress occurs incrementally and democracy can be a messy business.

Although our system of governing is still the best one around, there are disquieting trends that are undermining it. As I leave public office, a survivor of 12 elections, I think that I'm in a position to identify some areas of concern.

l Campaigns are too expensive. I spent about $8,000 in my first campaign, most of it contributed by family, friends and neighbors. Now, more than $100,000 is routinely spent on Iowa legislative races, the majority of it from special interest groups. While the media may benefit from the obscene spending, no one else does. The ads and fliers, over which there are no controls, are often misleading and negative. Increased influence of special interest groups is sometimes detrimental to the general welfare.

l Partisanship has gotten out of hand. Neither political party has the corner on wisdom. Unfortunately, the atmosphere has become increasingly partisan to the point that good ideas are often rejected or ignored based purely on the political affiliation of their sponsor. It was disillusioning to discover how great the pressure is to march lock-step with your party's leadership.

l Politics has become increasingly unpleasant. It seems that respect for people in public offices, at all levels of government, is at an all-time low. Negative campaigning has succeeded in sullying both winner and loser and the media is often too willing to stir the pot. Unfortunately, this atmosphere has resulted in may good, qualified people choosing not to subject themselves to the abuse that comes with serving in public office.

l Not being able to see the forest for the trees. Decision-makers are under tremendous pressure from special interest groups that are committed to promoting one issue often at the expense of everything else. While it is the job of elected officials to weigh competing priorities, all too often the squeaking wheel gets the grease, sometimes to the detriment of the overall general welfare. Decision-makers need to remember that they represent everyone, not just the few they happen to hear from. This is easier said than done, particularly at the local level where politics is very personal.

l A word on behalf of local government. It seems regionalism is a buzzword these days and everybody wants to be part of a “corridor.” While there are certainly many areas where intergovernmental cooperation makes sense and could avoid duplication, drastic approaches such as consolidation of counties would, in my view, be dangerous. My hunch is that the end result would be no financial savings, another level of bureaucracy, inconvenience for citizens, and an assault on the sense of community that still exists in rural Iowa.

On the positive side, our system of government is based on sound principles. There are many talented, dedicated people in public service. Although I don't necessarily think much of the recent flurry of legislation coming out of Washington, at least there appears to be signs of greater cooperation and a willingness to compromise.

If we're going to solve the big problems that we face, it's going to take lots of hard work, creativity and sacrifice. I know Iowans are up to the challenge if their elected officials can provide them with the opportunity.

Andy McKean, an attorney from Anamosa, served in the Iowa Legislature from 1979 to 2003, and as a Jones County supervisor from 2003 to 2011). Comments: 207 W. Main St., Anamosa, IA 52205.