By State Auditor Tom Salmon
posted
Sep 19, 2012
These words are used by elected officials as they try and
convince the citizens that we are moving forward as a county.
Another "42 dollar word" to be included in this category is
Transparency. Angry citizens and special interests groups that have
something to potentially lose also see fit to evoke the tenets of
the constitution, accountability and transparency to make their
points.
The United States Constitution, of course, is more than a word
or title. It is not a snowplow to get one's agenda adhered to. It
is a principled body of work, a structure, evolving for over 222
years to help guide a nation. Simply, the constitution is a way of
life; giving individuals a way to better understand their duties,
their rights and responsibilities. A participatory democracy
requires an informed and active populace. The constitution, in
essence, tells each of us "how to do our job" in a free nation.
When I was a teacher, I would remind my students that the
Constitution was a document that assisted our country in its
pursuit of Independence, away from British rule, and helped us
stand on our own two feet. In the same breath, I would remind my
East Los Angeles classroom that the reason they had to work so hard
was because the rich kids had certain and undeniable advantages.
This was not to discount their inalienable rights as young people,
but to inspire them to work harder, to succeed in a very
competitive country and global marketplace. As their leader, I
pledged to be fair, and they pledged to be honest and transparent
about their efforts and situation. The relationship was productive
because it fostered two-way accountability. The students had the
opportunity to skirt their participatory responsibilities, but
overall classroom productivity would suffer. This idea of the team
suffering because people did not "do their job" was my way of
teaching them about the U.S. Constitution, even if that was not the
primary subject matter of the classroom.
Today in America, it is critical the U.S. Constitution inspire
us to be a more perfect union, and we model to young people that
there is a balance between the rights extolled and the
responsibilities required of each individual in their pursuit of
happiness, freedom and success. Any group trying to whip young
people into frenzy over unfairness, in the name of the
Constitution, is manipulating, especially if the result finds
people skirting their responsibilities. This is not a time to blame
others for the imperfections of a nation, but to foster and
maintain accountability as American citizens.
Currently, we have a nation where approximately half the people
vote and half the people pay income taxes. This is a strange
contract, or form of participation, since government spending in VT
for citizens (2.245 Billion in 2000, 5.125B in 2013 according to
nonpartisan VTtransparency.org) has virtually exploded in its
efforts to serve the people.
Rosenkranz reminds us that "Structure, above all, is the object
of the Constitution". If the constitution fulfills such an
obligation, what about the citizen?
Although we know that elections are the ultimate form of
accountability in the hands of citizens regarding government
officials, what is the vehicle to ask citizens to be accountable,
honest and transparent? The U.S. Constitution is one such
vehicle.
As an outgoing elected official, I urge all citizens to review the
constitution and look in the mirror and ask if you are "doing your
job" and upholding your personal responsibilities to make this a
more perfect union. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on
Constitution Week (annually Sept. 17-23.)
State Auditor Tom Salmon CPA, CFE now lives in Rockingham with
his wife Leslie.
