Shinin' and Snubbin'

It became obvious who was "in" and who was "out" at Monday's council meeting. Those sufficiently loyal to the new mayor were greeted with effusions of praise and adoration. Anyone less than fully sold out to the England Restoration risked frostbite.

England is fortunate to have a large professional staff, so while A can be aloof, B can be warm, and C can be conciliatory. And England himself was firing on all cylinders Monday night, missing not a beat in his optimistic and velvet-gloved peroration to the crowd (oops, I mean to the council).

England promised his State of the City address next month, but his agenda became more transparent Monday. He still continues to espouse progressive ideals.

As a semi-professional skeptic, Shadow5 still wonders whether Doug England is being genuinely responsive to the undercurrent of the city - or whether he is adroitly co-opting the most vocal and intelligent segments of the city. In some respects, either analysis leads to progress. If England can bring progressives on board with his program, the average acceleration toward a brighter day will increase.

The alternative is horrible. Let's assume for just a moment that England is not a natural progressive. Just assume it, for the sake of argument. Yet, he responds viscerally to progressive ideas. He sees the progressives as natural allies to be courted. By harnessing their creative energies, he can only improve the prospects for his four-year term. Like iron sharpens iron, perhaps.

But...what if the progressives seek and ask and demand, but give nothing in return? England is too shrewd to cater to an element that will, in the end, treat his power as a free spigot to be turned on and off on a whim.

We don't suggest a "corrupt bargain." But surely wisdom lies in recognizing and utilizing the skills, talents, ideas, and abilities of an energized electorate still silly enough to hope for something better. And surely wisdom dictates that if an administration champions "your" ideas, you really can't ask for much more.