Newstalk 970, WBLF and I’m Wes Richards with some thoughts on the few and the many.
The few: three county county commissioners for a sprawling and diverse area. The many? That’s the state General Assembly with 253 people in starring roles and a supporting cast of what seems like thousands.
Caucuses, committees, underground railroads. Lobbyists, consultants, third deputy chiefs of staff. Public relations people secretaries, sweepers, cafeteria workers, lawn mowers, snow shovelers and on and on.
Centre County. about 155-thousand people, three commissioners… a ratio of just under 52-thousand people per resident.
Pennsylvania. Almost 12.8 million people. 253 legislators, that’s about 50-thousand per.
Sounds pretty much equal. Every 50-thousand or so Pennsylvanians need one legislator or commissioner.
But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. The General Assembly -- some assembly required -- is hidebound, unresponsive, naval gazing and occasionally meets -- remember, this is a full time legislature -- and on rare occasions actually takes votes and passes or defeats legislation.
You have a problem with Harrisburg, start fixing it young. It’s going to take awhile.
Unless it’s some silly issue about which passage is all but predestined. No one will fight you on “support our troops week,” or “bring your labradoodle to work day.”
There’s a move afoot to cut the number of legislators. It’s a long and convoluted process, designed to make you and the lawmakers and the political bosses think carefully.
But it needs to be done, and probably it will be.
The county, on the other hand is a monopoly of two, the two from one party that can pretty much do anything they want. Sometimes the odd man out is a Democrat, sometimes a Republican. It doesn’t matter. Power is concentrated in two pairs of hands.
Nice for friends of small government. But the potential for dictatorship lurks. Five would be a good mix. Maybe seven. It would keep the commissioners on their toes.
And Commissioners on their toes are much better for you than commissioners on YOUR toes.
I’m Wes Richards. My opinions are my own but you’re welcome to them. ®
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