This week Rod Blagojevich was convicted on 17 counts of corruption, including trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.
Here in Illinois, we collectively braced for the bad jokes. We try to laugh it off — the Cubs and Bears may be perennial losers, but at least we’re #1 at something — but there’s no denying the facts. When Blago begins his sentence, he will be the fourth former governor of our state sent to the pokey in the past 35 years.
You might not think Blago’s guilty verdict has anything to do with the arts, but I think there is a connection between ethics in government and the priorities of government.
Last summer, we helped produce an event with U.S. Representative Mike Quigley as part of the Americans for the Arts 50 States 50 Days campaign. Representative Quigley is an interesting guy. Government transparency and accountability are his signature issues.
When he is in DC, he lives and sleeps in his office. He doesn’t rent or own another residence to avoid the appearance of living high on the hog as a result of his elected position. He arrived at our event at the Old Town School of Folk Music on his bicycle wearing khakis, a polo, and sneakers. His Facebook profile picture shows him holding the Stanley Cup with our Blackhawks. He’s a man “of the people.”
Representative Quigley, in a very soft-spoken, but passionate way, explained his personal commitment to the arts. Unlike most cities or places in the country, he told us, when you arrive in Chicago, you know you’re in Chicago because of our incredible architecture and unique public art. Arts makes Chicago Chicago. He talked about the art classes his daughters take.
He then went on to connect the arts to his passion as a public servant, making government more open and responsive to the people (Watch).
His argument is essentially this: government transparency and accountability foster the public’s trust in those who govern. In turn, this trust empowers elected officials to actually lead, as opposed to pandering or whatever you want to call what happens between elections.
Right now Congress’s approval rating is eight percent (I’m serious), which doesn’t leave a lot of room for adventure or risk-taking.
Instead, elected officials are hyper-sensitive to the slightest shift in public mood. For the most part, they are motivated to “play it safe.” They talk about creating jobs and reducing government spending. When it comes to the arts, they’re nice, but not necessary. Don’t rock the boat.
Imagine what you would do if your boss had eight percent confidence in you. Would you make bold recommendations? Take an unpopular stand? Pursue policies that meant more costs for the organization today, but were an investment in the future? Or would you try to cover your ass. Be honest.
This raises two questions for me, and I hope you’ll leave a comment with your thoughts.
First and foremost, do you agree with Representative Mike Quigley that a “re-brand” of government would serve the arts sector?
If you do, then should the arts sector support reforms to increase accountability and transparency in government?
