The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease
By Bruce Kevil
President ABC Cornhusker Chapter
In the scheme of things the old adage of “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” is quite true especially when it comes to politics. I know most people see the antics of Federal, State and Local elected officials as “drama” – just something to talk about, like the weather. That’s fine and good but when they touch our livelihood or our pocket’s that’s something else entirely!
Ever wonder why labor unions get “political respect” when their numbers are dwindling?
When over 80% of the workforce chooses to not join a labor union! The unions are a squeaky wheel with money! In fact, those other 80% rarely squeak at all and herein lies the problem.
We need to become a better squeaky wheel, in fact a much better squeaky wheel. To do so requires grassroots voices, a multitude of voices. So here is the deal! I am going to make two requests, the first requesting the help of people who are friends, business acquaintances, made a personal campaign contribution or worked in an elected official’s campaign to send me an e-mail telling me that you are willing to contact a certain elected official about issues that affect your business. Then you will be associated with that elected official and receive “alerts” prior to a key vote. My e-mail address is BruceK@abcnebraska.org. The second request you ask - I will share that later.
As you know an elected official has to do a few things successfully. They are (1) get elected (2) play the rule of King Solomon and pick winners and losers concerning issues, brought before them and finally (3) raise enough money to get elected again. How is money raised, it comes from your friends see #2. So the gist of it all boils down to this, issues are driven to the top of the agenda using the “squeaky wheel principal” and it happens that decisions over issues often favor those established and active groups. To be an elected official is to be like King Solomon in the bible. Now a King of course doesn’t have to take criticism like an elected official does. That might be why we like our system of government, no kings thank you very much! In our system the elected official has to be willing to make decisions and take the criticism, it takes a big person to do that. I respect and honor their service, yet on occasion I to can be critical of their decisions.
The object of this lesson is to have effective “political influence” one needs to be a squeaky wheel with money! It is the desire of the Cornhusker Chapter of ABC to be an association that has “political influence” at the national, state and local levels. Let’s start with getting a multitude of voices. Send me an e-mail.