RGV Politics...A Semi-First Hand Account of Politics in the Rio Grande Valley and the Great State of Texas...To Be Continued

Due to circumstances that require my wholehearted commitment, I will not be posting to RGV Politics for an indefinite amount of time. My sincerest hope is to return by the November elections, and hiring of a new superintendent for PSJA ISD. At the latest, in time for the newly elected governments to take office in January of 2007. At this point, it's hard to say.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing RGV Politics. Doing so has opened my mind to a political process that until January of this year, I had only understood on a surface level. Nine months later, I found myself peeling layer upon layer to reach a deeper truth at what lies beneath all the corruption, nepotism, and selfishness that has become the status quo in the Rio Grande Valley. It is my strong opinion that this is the reason why political blogging in our area has become so important. We're still digging for that deeper truth.

There is an old saying that goes,"Never bite the hand that feeds". It has become engrained into our South Texas culture to believe "the hand" represents elected officials. Those in power. Those with influence. Those with surnames, kinships, or affiliations who were raised to believe that because of this, the soles of their feet float a little higher off the ground than the rest of ours do. They are wrong. And so were we for believing it for so long.

In truth, "the hand" represents the community. A voter who has a voice in whether the types of actions by elected officials will be tolerated or not. Actions done as a matter of policy and personal conviction. A kickback on a construction project. The hiring of a family member to high-level positions within a school district which is rich with those more qualified to do a better job. Returning a political favor by awarding contracts without a legal bidding process.

RGV Politics, and so many other blogs across the Valley have tried to bring these truths to the surface. For our readers, and for ourselves. Perhaps as a way to better understand the social and political environment we've been raised to accept "as is". No refunds-No exchanges. Through different styles and presentations, the message has been the same.

"The hand" in charge has always been the community. Not elected officials, or their well connected co-horts. It should no longer be a matter of how we continue to support corruption, or questionable policies by electing these people into office. It has become a matter of why we continue to elect these types of people. We can make our communities better once we learn to let go of that fear which dictates that our world will crumble beneath us if we decide to speak out openly about our elected government. We should constantly remind ourselves that the word "elected" means we as a society put them there by choice, and it has always been our choice. Not the other way around.

A final thought for those who might have failed to recognize the importance of voicing an opinion by means of a political blog, or have missed the point entirely. If history judges us, let that judgment be based on an ignorant truth that we as a society chose to adhere to. But let history also know that there were those of us within that society who strived to make a difference.

H.