Cross-posted from www.whatsrequiredky.com. This page will stop updating on Wednesday.
So I’ll regale you with a conversation from last night, or a rough interpretation of it. Since this website is new, and I have some friends who aren’t horribly politically inclined, I was talking to a dear friend who hadn’t seen the new hotness that is whatsrequiredky.com. She’s also a Centre College alum, and seeing the bit on Crit Luallen led from the shared alma matter of all three of us, to my feelings on Crit perpetually being asked, and declining to run for, higher office.
Here’s my thoughts on the matter, and not just for Mrs. Luallen (who I am aware has fought off cancer, and may well have a legit medical claim to not running), but for all talented people in (or from!) the Commonwealth…
We have such a talent deficit in this state–the brain drain coming home–that talented, effective leaders should be responding to the pressure to lead in a more dramatic fashion than they have to date. I understand the desire to keep a job you enjoy, a low public profie, etc.–and for those Kentuckians in the private sector, a big paycheck–but to frank about it, this is bigger than that. Kentucky is 40th or worse in every major economic and educational metric the census bureau can dream up, and it’s largely because of failures in leadership.
I don’t mean failures in leadership at the federal level. I don’t mean failures in leadership at the gubernatorial level. I mean failures in leadership at EVERY level. The Governor needs to learn how to lead, but he’s getting there, if this cigarette tax is any indication. We need talent at the county level. In the precincts. Our state is in trouble, has been, and now has a 900 Million budget shortfall to overcome on our way moving forward. I apologize, but enjoying your current job, and being happy is not a reason to remain in your position. If the people of Kentucky can benefit from your service, at any level, start pitching in. And for those of you capable of doing it on the level of elected office–you have to lead the way.
Call it the Spiderman rule: with great power comes great responsibility. One look at the statistics on poverty and education should bring that responsibility home–what can you be doing? Who do you know that’s been ducking out on helping make this place we love, someplace we can be proud of?
