Somewhere over the course of my life, I was blessed with the realization that accountability is good for me. I articulate the “a-ha” in such a manner, as I’ve learned that not all adults have come to a similar awareness. Let me first add a couple of caveats:
1. I’m not suggesting I’ve always been good at it.
And 2. I don’t share my awareness with any sense of superiority.
My point is simple: accountability is good.
Accountability is the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own actions. By being accountable to someone other than myself — to persons who gently but generously apply liberal doses of grace and truth — I am encouraged to answer for my actions… the good, bad, and ugly. There is no deception, no manipulation of the facts, nor any rhetorical spin.
Let me go a step further… accountability isn’t always fun. Frequently I must acknowledge a poor choice, a lack of discernment, or an error in judgment. Sometimes I must admit a painful mistake. Sometimes, too, I wish no one would know.
But the “knowing” by others spurs me on. The “knowing” is what makes me better at what I do. I want to live my life/do my job ethically and well, and accountability helps me do that.
One of the veiled, intentional hindrances to today’s government efficiency, however, is the acute absence of accountability. Neither the Judicial or Legislative nor Executive Branch of the federal government seeks or desires accountability…
The Judicial Branch… an appointment to the Supreme Court lasts a lifetime. Their tenure is for life unless they resign, retire, take senior status, or are removed after impeachment (… granted, no justice has ever been removed). A lifetime appointment equates to little to no accountability, which is especially concerning if/when a judge is ideologically driven.
The Legislative Branch… the leaders of both bodies of Congress — currently 1 Democrat (Sen. Harry Reid) and 1 Republican (Rep. John Boehner) — control what measures make it to the congressional floor. In other words, when the minority party wishes to bring a bill to a vote, Reid and Boehner respectively block it. To make matters worse (from the Intramuralist’s eyes, from an integrity standpoint), both parties quickly cry “foul” when the other party is doing the blocking. There exists little recourse. Hence, the Democrats and Republicans face minimal accountability.
The Executive Branch… every president seems to push the extent of Executive Orders — and every opposing party seems to vociferously, publicly protest. Executive Orders bypass the accountability inherent in a 3 branch system. Currently, the most questionable bypassing of accountability is in the execution of Obamacare. The White House has made 18 significant changes to the law via executive action. Their obvious quandary is that because the law is increasingly unpopular, if they allow Congress to have input, Democrats and Republicans will likely join together to make bipartisan changes. Hence, Pres. Obama is avoiding accountability, especially on Obamacare.
Democrats and Republicans… Republicans and Democrats… all 3 branches of government… they do not seek or desire accountability. They are unwilling to accept responsibility for their own actions… the good, bad, and ugly. They will not admit a poor choice, a lack of discernment, or any error in judgment. We all make mistakes! But our government’s (supposedly) public servants — knowing they must run on their perceived public record — instead sadly and dishonestly resort to deception, manipulation of the facts, and lavish rhetorical spin. They have not realized that accountability is good for them, too.
Respectfully,
AR