05/15/02  Urbandale Serf's Lessons Continue:

Since becoming the "sacrificial virgin" of a councilwoman (M T-R) who realized her last election was too dangerously close to assume she'd get re-elected without pretending to produce some sort of results, I've been burying my nose and keyboard-pounding fingers in news articles, editorials, census data and related statistics that might lead me to some "higher sense" of why everything is the way it is when it comes to how Dallas City Government does its business.  

And I mean just that when I say it;.........government is business.

Here's what I used to think:   People who run for city government office are either the type who thrive in the limelight and power or the type who truly want to achieve change and seek positions in local government hoping to do just that.  I used to think there were fairly large numbers of both types of politicians with the balance was close enough to equal for me not to sweat too much.

Now, I think most people who pursue any political positions, no matter how honest and true they think they may be, must possess a certain (yet unidentified) gene.  I affectionately refer to this gene as the "Publicly Acceptable Sociopathic" gene.  Not all people sitting in or striving for public office have this gene, but it sure seems like the majority do.

This PAS gene allows you to 

1.  Do things the average person's sense of morality would prevent them from doing.

2.  Run for office and promise everyone that you'll "do your best" to achieve the right and "do your best" to avoid the wrong, when you know full well you're going to end up openly embracing the "wrong" agendas that fatten your bank account.

3.  Look at yourself in the mirror at night and like what you see, no matter what wrong agenda you backed that day.

4.  Have the balls to look public servants like firefighters and policeman in the face and swear your support to them while knowing the entire time that development takes overwhelming precedent.  

5. Convince yourself  you are pushing for the "Greater Good".  This PAS gene is also particularly nasty in that it easily allows your brain to think the idea of the "Greater Good" lies not in the DNA of the common citizen, but in the "community leaders" who feel that they can do for us what we are pathetically mentally not equipped to decide for ourselves.  

The PAS gene takes the average conscience and deforms it; gives it extra limbs in lieu of functioning brain cells.  This PAS gene is a disease, pure and simple.

If you read this and are confident that you definitely don't possess the PAS gene, thank whatever God you worship and vow to fight those in power who are carrying the PAS gene.  The world needs more non-PAS gene carriers out there filling government seats.  

If you read this and immediately tell yourself that this Urbandale Serf must be some left-wing extremist in need of a good roll of duct tape over the mouth, I'm sure we will see your name on some ballot somewhere in the near future.  I'll pray for you.

Sincerely,

An Urbandale Serf