Overpersonalization of politics and government

There has always been the tension within government between democracy and professionalism, between "bringing home the pork" and making fair and planned decisions and actions. The Progressive Movement in the early part of the 1900s was a response to machine politics and immigrant-based political organizing. In some respects progressivism was about professionalization of government, but it was also about de-democratizing things.

Maybe de-democratizing wouldn't be necessary if professionalism mattered. Too often, instead of looking at issues and problems systemically and structurally, the viewpoint (and legislative "solution" profferred) is overpersonalized.

This is one of the problems I have with ANCs, which can too often lead to what I call the tyranny of neighborhood parochialism. E.g., that 600 H Street NE matter--with others I worked reasonably hard on improving the design of the project, but then my compatriots bobbled the ball almost completely on the transportation side of things--other than getting the mid-block signalized crosswalk--which was my suggestion, which DDOT rejected initiallly, but then supported.

Anyway, this article in today's Chicago Sun-Times, "New neighbors' guide to Chicago: What does your alderman do? Everything or nothing, it's up to you," is a pretty good introduction to the overpersonalization of local politics. From the article:

You're a homeowner and you need to fix a problem with your house. Take this pop quiz on how things really get done in your neighborhood.

1. A squirrel is in your gutter and driving you nuts, so you ...

a) Dial emergency 911
b) Contact your local pest control service
c) Call your alderman.

2. You have a pothole in front of your house growing bigger each day ...

a) Put a chair in front of the hole
b) Purchase some asphalt and fill in the hole yourself
c) Call your alderman.

3. You need approval of a building permit to install a new driveway ...

a) Talk to the building inspector
b) File a request with the city's Building Department
c) Call your alderman.

The answer to all three questions is C. Your alderman can intervene on your behalf to resolve these problems twice as fast as it might take you if you were to call the city's nonemergency 311 number or directly call a city department.

Of course, in DC things don't work that fast either, and some Councilmembers are much better with constituent services than others.

The City of Chicago has 50 aldermen, one for each ward. Their job is to get things done for residents. (John H. White/Sun-Times)

Gary Imhoff, editor and publisher of the online good government e-letter, themail, writes in the current issue that DC City Council is falling down on the job in terms of being responsive to citizens. He writes four paragraphs about this, starting with this:

Under the chairmanship of Vincent Gray, this is the worst city council that the District of Columbia has ever had — and we remember the abysmal city councils of the 1970’s and 1980’s. But even in those days, when city council members were irresponsible and several of them were seriously stupid, at least they understood how to run public hearings, and they realized that public hearings were intended to give citizens of the District an opportunity to speak with their elected public servants. Their meetings maintained a certain minimum level of civility, decorum, and respect toward citizens. By contrast, this council is angry and mean. It is contemptuous of and hostile toward citizens, and its members don’t want to hear anything that differs with their preconceived opinions. Last week, columnist Adrienne Washington described councilmembers’ misbehavior during their hearing on Mayor Fenty’s school takeover bill: “witnesses, especially Superintendent Clifford B. Janey, were berated, badgered, interrupted, and not allowed to answer questions during a kangaroo-court-style inquest."