To The Editor:
May 12, 2016, Government Day at the Oswego County Legislature: a day when junior high schoolers come to the legislature to see how government works.
Well today they got a lesson in political integrity and political accountability and it didn’t cost them a thing. Most political majors in college pay a minimum of $150 a credit hour.
Political integrity – Integrity is important for politicians because they are chosen, appointed, or elected to serve society.
In order to be able to serve, politicians are given power in their positions to make, execute, or control policy.
They have the power to influence something or someone.
There is, however, a risk that this power will not be used by politicians to serve society.
Aristotle said that because rulers have power they will be tempted to use it for personal gain. It is important that politicians withstand this temptation, and that requires integrity.
Accountability – In ethics and governance, accountability is answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and the expectation of account-giving. In leadership roles, accountability is the acknowledgment and assumption of responsibility or actions, products, decisions, and policies including the administration, governance, and implementation within the scope of the role or employment position and encompassing the obligation to report, explain and be answerable for resulting consequences.
The students learned that political integrity is non-existent in the Oswego County Legislature. They also learned that accountability for your actions or lack of actions and the consequences apply to everyone else but not if you’re an elected official in Oswego County.
They watched (and answered for) the legislators they were matched with as they passed the Home Rule resolution that basically said it is okay if you break the rules or don’t follow the rules; we will change them to suit us.
They witnessed as a minority caucus tried to show the majority caucus the error of their ways to no avail.
Well I have to say: Welcome to Politics Students!
Legislator Frank Castiglia Jr.
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