Junior accounting and government and politics major
In an ideal America, a fully-informed, completely participating citizenry would select its elected officials from the cream of the crop — intelligent, experienced, honest and diligent Americans who would make excellent leaders. These ideal leaders would be outstanding citizens, govern justly, and work solely for a better nation. Unfortunately, the reality has shown to be far different, mixing dedicated leaders with lazy, ineffective or corrupt ones. From Aaron Burr’s treachery in the early days of America to Richard Nixon’s infamous Watergate Scandal, Americans have had to deal with some truly abysmal leadership. Knowing such poor leaders do exist, the governed should view effective political accountability as essential to maintaining proper governance.
Political accountability is the idea by which elected officials should act in their constituents’ interests and in a proper, legal manner or face some consequence, either electoral or legal. Political accountability is structured into the Constitution itself by creating rules for impeachment and in various laws that apply to all people or specifically to elected officials. Law enforcement does not take an oath of loyalty to a particular person and is free to investigate members of Congress and the like for crimes. These checks help create sanctions and enforcement for criminal activity.
Even more important than the legal checks are third-party safeguards. The media, particularly investigative journalism, plays a huge role in exposing crime. Additionally, the media reports on the political news, covering what matters various governments are taking up and what politicians are actually doing in office. But I would argue that the most important accountability checks are you and I.
We are the ones voting these leaders into office. Complain about “big money” politics all you want, but at the end of the day, we are the ones casting — or not casting — votes to send leaders to our capitals. If we simply cast a vote based on the letter next to a name or what a funny campaign advertisement says, we have failed as citizens in holding politicians accountable. In New York’s 11th Congressional District, voters nominated incumbent Michael Grimm and then elected him in the general election even after 20 allegations of fraud, tax evasion and perjury were leveled against him. He later pleaded guilty to federal tax fraud.
Instances such as these are unacceptable. As citizens, we must hold politicians accountable for their actions by becoming informed voters who pay attention to the actions (or inaction) of their elected representatives. Citizens must be involved in the primary process to ensure that good candidates get on the ballot. Citizens should hold politicians to high standards and remind them that they serve at the pleasure of the people, for the people. Citizens must be active in the political process if we truly want to hold politicians accountable for their actions.
Matt Dragonette is a junior accounting and government and politics major. He can be reached at mdragonettedbk@gmail.com.
