For some overly optimistic individuals of the 1880s, power tends to corrupt personnel, but if they have “absolute power,” they govern and act in a generous and impartial manner. May have expressed the idea. Sir Acton put this belief in a pile of misconceptions when he wrote in 1887 that “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power absolutely corrupts.”
A good example of Sir Acton’s truth is the houses that are absolutely controlled by the Republicans of the Kentucky General Assembly. They weren’t happy with being able to pass some of the legislation they wanted and veto, and changed the rules so that they could break the debate immediately after submitting the bill. The convention and tradition was that when a motion was made to end the debate, anyone else in the room who still wanted to talk could do so for 10 minutes. Now that this is not the case at all, it reinforces the true Republican conservative principle of freedom of speech. Why should the Republican majority waste time listening to them, as those nasty Democrats don’t have the ability to vote against the bill?
The current legislative assembly records include “BR 14: Laws Related to Public Education and the Declaration of Emergency”. “Modified KRS 158.183 to give local school boards or public charter school boards guidance and discussions in classrooms incorporating designated concepts related to race, gender, and religion in public schools or public schools. It is obligatory not to provide it by the charter school. “
This is the basic conservative Republican principle. Let the government prescribe what can and cannot be discussed between citizens and teachers. Put government at the forefront and at the center of our lives. Limit students’ freedom of speech. Maybe burn a few books. After all, the Republican Parliament has the absolute power to do so. And it is declared an emergency so that such restrictions are imposed just before another young mind is contaminated.
Isn’t it possible that the proponents of the legislation were members of the White Citizens’ Council 60 years ago? Or is it the Ku Klux Klaners 100 years ago? Or a slave owner 150 years ago?
And, of course, Republicans are working on democracy, backed by free and fair elections, elections that take into account the existing wise areas of political devotion. Therefore, the Republican Party will establish a gerrymander map that divides the city of Bowling Green into three legislative districts. They add enough local territory to ensure that the votes of the city’s inhabitants are diluted, ensuring that the resulting representatives are Republicans. The number of them cannot be too large. An excess half is required.
And since men dominate in our human species, it makes sense to redraw the district lines so that females are expelled from Congress. Sir Acton again: “… Absolute power will definitely rot.”
On budget issues: Traditionally, government agencies propose plans, the results of which are negotiated between two basic government agencies. Using that absolute power, the Republicans announced the first proposed budget. Why do we need to keep the normal order when we don’t need it? Heck, a Republican leader suggests he wants to negotiate with the governor, but he probably doesn’t even care to read his submission. Why do you need it?
The only invasion of absolute power currently being exercised by the GOP is the acclaim that many thinking citizens of the Commonwealth hold Governor Bescher for his leadership and compassion in the COVID pandemic. The Republican Cabinet and legislators have done their best to promote “individual freedom” regardless of the loss of life (remember the freshman Republicans who appeared on the first day without a mask), but most of the governors. I’m winning. Certainly with its absolute power, the Republicans can fix this in 2023. Or maybe not.
Michael Kennedy has retired as a professor of geography at the University of Kentucky.