Dirt time over; work time begins
Collegian Opinion

    After months and months of negative campaign ads, the elections are finally over.

   Although The Collegian went to press prior to the final outcome announcement, one thing is clear: it’s time to put the campaign behind us and move ahead for the betterment of Texas and its residents.

   The winners can now get on to the business of running the state’s government.

   The big question, though: was running the state the candidates’ intention in the first place?

   Gov. Rick Perry was shown in a Tony Sanchez commercial as asking a state police officer if “we could get on down the road.”

   That seems to be a pretty accurate description of Perry and most politicians. These politicians apparently think they are above the law.

   That attitude should bother many people. If these people are not subject to the same laws as we are, then how are they qualified to make laws for us?

   Another bothersome aspect of the recent elections is how badly these people wanted to win. They were willing to resort to the lowest level to gain even a slight advantage in the polls.

   How anyone could sacrifice dignity for such a small annual salary is beyond the reasoning of most of us “common people.”

   Which begs the question—why do these people want to be in political power so badly?

   More than $90 million was spent on the governor’s race between Rick Perry and Tony Sanchez. It does not make much financial sense to spend that much money for a job that will pay only about $100,000 a year for four years.

   How does that investment in being governor of Texas garner a return?

   Donations from private citizens and large corporations to further their interests will help them recover their losses for the state’s highest office.

   A governor for sale to the highest bidder should alarm the citizens of the state. Our government is based on the principle for the people and by the people.

   We are starting to resemble an oligarchy with a wealthy few making decisions for the many.

   This is certainly not the America that the Forefathers dreamt of.

   Perhaps we should start looking at reasons to disqualify people from the offices they seek.

   It seems as though anyone who wants power so badly that they will seize it in any manner possible is not a good candidate for a democratic-style government.

   Too many people want to be leaders in this country these days. The problem is that not many of them are capable of leading.

   One is reminded of the movie Jaws when Robert Shaw’s character says, “There are too many captains on this island.”

   Too bad the real captains will not step forward; however, when they do, we usually assassinate them.