Harbison: 100 Years of Democrat Leadership

Jim Harbison

The elections are only days away and the public has the opportunity to change 100 years of Democrat Party rule that has kept New Mexico at the bottom of nearly every measurable category. About the only category they could not depress is the number of sunny days per year. Their policies have inhibited the economic, social and educational development of this State and have prevented New Mexicans from experiencing many of the socio-economic opportunities that residents of other States enjoy. Their policies have impoverished our citizens and made them dependent upon the State and local governments for their basic needs. Residents have been relegated to a status similar to serfs of the State of New Mexico and the Federal government.

The Democrat Party which controls the State government continues to develop more social programs that have the unintended (or intended) consequence of discouraging efforts of hard working New Mexicans to break out of this cycle of poverty and inhibits their opportunities for economic advancement. Democrats have been ineffective in creating job opportunities and their restrictive and self-serving policies have either discouraged business development or driven existing businesses from the State.

For the last eight years we have had a governor who was more concerned about his own higher political ambitions than the needs of the people of New Mexico. His role appeared to be an absentee landowner and as long as the “rent was paid” he had no real concerns about the issues that permeated the State. Corruption in New Mexico government is legendary as evidenced by the number of former State officials convicted of corruption. Ethical reform has been consistently defeated by Democrat Party leadership.

Our society has become so polarized that our elected officials, because of party affiliation, refuse to work together. They have forgotten the art of negotiation and how to work together and compromise to reach a solution that, while it may not be perfect, produces the best possible outcome for the CITIZENS rather than the party operatives. Bi-partisanship is not “I won the election so do it my way” but rather open discussion of differing opinions to reach an acceptable solution. The loser in our current political environment is not the opposing political party but the citizens of New Mexico. As citizens we all lose while they struggle to keep and maintain their control over the opposition party, enhance their bloated egos, and by default or design fail to acknowledge their role of representing the needs of the people. The old saying that “when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging” is appropriate for our current political situation. Whatever the Democrats have been doing for more than 100 years is NOT working and is NOT helping New Mexico and New Mexicans achieve their social, economic and educational potentials. Single party rule has not worked and voting more of the same will not change the results.

Perhaps it’s time to look to an alternative option and provide a different strategy to lead New Mexico out of its lowly national rankings. The Republican Party has been given little opportunity to change the policies of this State government. Obviously, the Republicans don’t have all the answers and electing them to office won’t immediately fix the many issues and problems that confront this State. However, the policies of the past 100 years of Democrat leadership have not either.

Let’s use this election to create new opportunities for this and future generations of New Mexicans. Let’s try something different and vote Republican to bring new ideas and options to achieve a more balanced approach to improving our State and improving the opportunities for our citizens.

Harbison: 100 Years of Democrat Leadership