I was just thinking of how college basketball and football has a process where prospects that are interested in making the jump to the pros can do a draft analysis to check their status. Too bad Politicians don’t have something in place like this where they can look at things through a similar lens. If that had been the case in the recent mayoral election in St. Louis, certain candidates would have had a real sense of their election status and have been able to make a honest and truthful assessment on their chances of winning.
I am constantly amazed at how those marginalized by society, our youth and even gang members such as the Crips and Bloods, can find a way to galvanize forces in critical junctures to bring greater light to issues that affect our communities. You saw it with the Rodney King trial, how the gangs called a truce to bring peace and stability back to the community, And starting with Ferguson and pretty much every situation since then how, our youth have led the drive for change. If only those individuals that we consider to be astute and/or intelligent could learn from our youngsters how to engage in acts of diplomacy.
But no, it seems like political hubris and single-minded self-interest got in the way of certain individuals’ ability to do a proper cause/effect analysis or assessment of their campaigns. Because these individuals couldn’t figure out how to get out of their own way, we are stuck with four more years of more of the same, instead of a true change in leadership and direction for St. Louis.Â
Thomas Payton
St. Louis
