Blue Collar Muse

Legacy. Governors and Presidents worry, “What will my legacy be?”. It’s a fancy-shmancy way of asking, “What exactly will they say I DID for 8 years?”

Tennessee’s Governor, Phil Bredesen, is no different. Not up for election, and a Lame Duck, it appears he’s started thinking about his. Just before Christmas Bredesen found a building project he liked, and, likely caught up in the Christmas story’s drama, found a legacy in that season’s account of the life and death of Christ. With so many characters to choose from, you’d think the Governor would have picked someone inspirational. You’d be wrong. Instead of forging a legacy from role models such as Joseph or the wise men or even Mary; in short, instead of choosing a hero, he opted for a villain. There were three to choose from but I can’t decide which he was shooting for. So I’ll outline the options and let you all decide which role Governor Bredesen is playing. Feel free to leave your choices in ‘Comments’.

Up first is Herod the Great. This role fits many of the Governor’s actual actions. Herod was sort of Jewish but not Jewish enough for the citizens. He continually tried to win the hearts and minds of his subjects. One method used was building projects. Bredesen has lived in Tennessee for years but isn’t really a Tennessean to many. Seen as a Carpet Bagger, he’s viewed suspiciously. Still, he won enough hearts and minds to get elected. Herod, after gaining power he embarked on a building program financed by the people and erected a magnificent Temple. Like Herod, Bredesen started building but all he managed was a multi-million dollar entertainment bunker for a mansion he never uses anyway. In their own minds, the two despots were serving the public. Yet, neither group of subjects appreciated what was done for them. Probably because the projects are monuments to tyranny rather than evidence of benevolence. That, and the fact the people were taxed into poverty to pay for it. I assume the bunker will be nice.

Up next is Judas; personally chosen by Jesus and made part of His inner circle. Unfortunately Judas retained a core of selfishness he couldn’t suppress. He never managed to reconcile Service and Authority; failing the lesson his peers learned - the greatest was the servant of all. That failure led Judas to betray what he claimed to love for personal gain. 30 pieces of silver. Bredesen was chosen by the majority of Tennesseans to be their chief advocate. For years he’s led a privileged life. But selfishness proved too strong and he established his legacy with a construction project costing more than 30 pieces of silver. A lot more. Despite pleas from those who trusted him to speak for them not to waste millions on a needless bunker, the Governor betrayed Tennesseans with a kiss and went ahead with his plans. Or perhaps it was that he offered Tennesseans a part of him to kiss …

Lastly, we find Pilate. Pilate had the authority to right the wrong that unfolded before him and which originated with others. He tried to dodge his responsibility by handing the decision off to Herod. He even got good advice from his wife; “Have nothing to do with this man!” Ultimately, he was coerced into a decision by the masses which begs the question, “What good is having authority to do good if you don’t actually do good with the authority you have?” Pilate responds with his famous handwashing scene after tossing an innocent man under the bus. Just so, Bredesen’s decisions in the matter started with the actions of others. The original plan to renovate the Governor’s mansion came from Bredesen’s wife, Andrea Conte, and would have been a fantastic legacy for the First Couple. Unfortunately, the renovation mushroomed from a few hundred thousand dollars in private donations to millions in tax dollars spent on new construction. Bredesen dodged responsibility by sending disgruntled citizens to Mike Fitts, the state architect. Fitts, an innocent, was tasked with defending the indefensible and did such a good job of taking arrows meant for the Governor that Andrea Conte herself praised him while dismissing the complaints of Tennesseans.

“You are doing a magnificent job of deflecting hits and correcting erroneous information regarding Conservation Hall,” [Conte] writes. “This is an innovative design and a long time coming—what a shame partisan political hacks have targeted the project out of meanness of spirit and selfishness.”

Conte concludes her note with a hearty dose of good cheer.

“Keep a song in your heart and a smile on your face” [Conte] assures Fitts. “We will prevail.”

Legacy. So many politicians seek one. They forget they forge one via their daily decisions as opposed to manufacturing one with a few selected projects. If Bredesen had served Tennesseans as opposed to himself, his legacy might have been different from the one he’s building in a bunker. Future “public servants” would do well to remember the actual legacies of our three choices; Herod, Judas and Pilate. As for Bredesen, he’ll get his bunker by despising and belittling those he was to serve, preferring instead to serve himself. Not exactly the legacy he was looking for but it’s the one he earned.

Blue Collar Muse

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This entry was posted on Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 5:00 am and is filed under Blogroll, Common Sense, Individual Responsibility, Nashville Nuggets, Politics, You'd Be Wrong. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.