Navigating the Potholes of Politics

No good deed in politics and government goes unpunished. No matter how well meaning, you’re going to upset someone.

I learned that lesson shortly after my introduction to the sport. For years, Alison and I had bumped along down Drexel to get to her parents’ home on Betsy Lane. Drexel was about as torn up and pitted with potholes as a street could be.

My parents-in-law and some of their long time neighbors were kind enough to throw a reception for me during my very first race for Houston City Council. I told them I usually wouldn’t make such specific promises regarding infrastructure projects but given the state of Drexel, I assured them I would get it fixed.

I just knew that such a promise would instantly endear me to all of the guests. Wrong. “Don’t do that,” said one of the neighbors. “That’s how we keep people from driving fast through the neighborhood!” Several heads nodded in agreement.

I would go on to witness similar scenarios play out with numerous issues and learned that no matter how well meaning an initiative, there will almost always be someone willing to offer surprising opposition.

It seems that not even the Texas effort to find a cure for cancer is immune. It had to be difficult to find them but, sure enough, there are those willing to speak out against the $3 billion dollar program.

Earlier this year, Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature came together to pass the cancer research initiative. The newly formed Cancer Research Institute will distribute money based on recommendations from a panel of scientists. The obvious hope is that with such a strong financial commitment to research, Texas can perhaps be responsible for finding a cure for cancer.

But now a number of health care experts have stepped forward to criticize the plan. They say it’s fiscally irresponsible for Texas to be spending state money on a national priority especially when expensive debt financing will be involved. They also say the program over-promises results.

Voters will have the final say in November because before it can move forward, the program will have to be approved at the ballot box.

I think we would be very foolish to listen to the critics.

I certainly understand those who say California was smarter to put its billions toward stem cell research, an area badly in need of alternative support because of cutbacks in federal funding.

I would have been overjoyed to see Texas move in the same direction, but because of the overall political climate and the dramatic level of ignorance in our state regarding stem cell research, there was no chance of that happening.

So should we have done nothing? Of course not. Texas has some of the most brilliant medical minds in the world, especially when it comes to cancer research, and if this new initiative can lead us closer to a cure, hallelujah.

Just know that if a cure is found as a result of the program, there will still probably be someone who can find fault. I don’t know how, but they’ll find it.

(Originally published by Examiner Newspaper Group)