Atrophying of Principles

Mr. Jefferson Would Cringe
at the Lack of Principles

The real Vienna Town Council problem is about the atrophying of its principles. As their years in power have stretched on, long-time Town Council members have become more passionate about retaining power than in using that power to change or improve government. Gathering votes for serious policy is difficult and tends to divide a majority. Re-election unites them, however, so they have gradually settled for doing nothing to sustain their incumbency. This strategy has maintained a majority, but at the cost of doing anything substantial. This Town Council has achieved little in the last decade that will outlast into the future and they have ignored the serious issues of traffic and a commercial corridor decline. Meanwhile, the most talented members of our community have continued to avoid Council service to seek other opportunities. The current leaders who remain have become ever more preoccupied with process, money and incumbency. Ideas are an afterthought, when they aren't an inconvenience. Our sense is the long-time Vienna Council members don't yet appreciate the trouble they're in. Confident of small Town machine politics, they think the voters will never turn Vienna over to younger people with fresh ideas and unlimited energy. Eventually, voters will grow more disgusted with the current Council members who care only about re-election.

Note: If this sounds familiar, it was adapted directly from here.