Where the Buck Stops

 

Dr. Larry Lezotte, a preeminent educational researcher and a man I greatly admire, once asked, “If the problem is caused by someone below you on the organizational chart, or if the problem is caused by someone above you on the organizational chart, or if the problem is caused by external factors, then in what ways are you relevant to your organization?  If the solution to your problem lies beneath you on the organizational chart, or above you on the organizational chart or outside your organization then in what ways are you relevant to your organization?”  President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that read, “The buck stops here.”  These are but two articulations of the same message:  be accountable.

I am amazed at the lengths some folks are willing to travel to avoid having the buck stop with them.  It appears whatever is wrong is always someone else’s fault and that the solution is the responsibility of someone else.  Of course, blaming someone never solves the problem, it just deflects the heat by passing the buck.

On November 7, 2020, Donald Trump released a statement claiming victory in the Presidential election. He claimed some deep conspiracy stole his votes, that there was widespread voter fraud, and that the media were perpetrating false information.  He won, but it was factors outside the election that took it away from him.  There remains absolutely no evidence to support his claims.  He did not say “I lost,” nor did he concede the election.  It was the fault of governors, secretaries of state, voter fraud, and the media.  The buck moved on.

On March 13, 2020, as the coronavirus was rapidly spreading through the US Trump had continued to say it was like the flu and it would go away, and was even so bold as to say that he rated his response to the virus as a “10.”  He made it clear that he was not responsible for the virus or our nation’s response.  The buck moved on.

As the electric power grid failed in Texas leaving millions without electricity.  Governor Abbott frantically looked for someplace to plant the blame.  It must the Green Neal Deal, it must be ERCOT.  It could not possibly be the governor, who appoints the board of ERCOT or supports legislative priorities to protect the oil and gas industries by keeping federal regulations at bay.  Nope, it was someone else.  The buck moved on.

As McConnell and Graham and company found excuses to push through Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court within weeks of the election after promising they would not do that very thing just 4 years ago, it must be because it is unwise to really believe they are accountable for their promises.  The buck moved on.

And clearly, all the problems in America right now are due to unfair trade advantages and immigration and minorities and democrats and liberals.  Right.  It is not me, it is not my prejudice, it is not my lack of knowledge of the issues, and it is someone else’s fault.  Let’s build a wall.  The buck moves on.

Yes, I could go on and on.  I won’t.  The current thinking of many politicians is to take credit for positive results whether or not any action on their part influenced those results, and to pass the blame for any problem to someone else, and to work diligently to obstruct other politicians who are developing plans to address the problems.  I call that cowardice and lack of character.

This is not just rhetoric for me.  I was a public school superintendent in one of the most highly regulated public school systems in the country.  I was one of 2,000 superintendents in the state.  I was charged with following all the state laws, all the federal laws, and all the local codes.  If our buildings were not ADA compliant it was my fault, I accepted that and implemented a plan to correct it.  If our cheerleaders were enmeshed in controversy I accepted the responsibility to fix it.  If our football team was losing I accepted the responsibility and developed a plan to improve it.  If our test scores were declining it was my fault and I developed a plan to fix it.  On and on.  I wish I had known Trump’s model before I retired because there sure were a lot of other people I could have blamed for these issues.  But I knew the job title meant the buck stopped with me.  As one of my professors used to say, “If your name is on the door and there is carpet on the floor it is your responsibility.”

Donald Trump lost the presidential election fair and square.  After months of attempting to identify voter irregularities, he has failed and his court cases have been dismissed for lack of evidence.  It is not a conspiracy.  It is not a cover-up.  He lost.  He can’t blame that on anyone.  His supporters continue to look for someone to blame, but there is no one.  Meanwhile, President Biden is addressing all our issues heads on, tackling thorny problems via executive orders, legislation, and the bully pulpit while the loyal opposition opposes all that he is attempting to do.  That is their strategy to prove they are relevant in our organization.  Obstruct all plans to improve or resolve.  They simply want to shoot the buck.

Own up, Republicans.  If you are not part of a solution you are part of the problem.  Your platform can simply not be: let’s keep the Trump supporters happy and oppose everything proposed by Democrats.  If you continue to follow that platform you will become irrelevant in the institution of governing the USA.  How about universal admission that the truth is Trump lost the election and go from there.  We need folks of conscience, not of fear, folks of character not of conspiracy theory, folks of truth not of treachery.  Be accountable. 

Let a buck or two stop with you.