Gene Stilp praised
Longtime Pennsylvania good government activist Gene Stilp is a man after my own heart.
To learn that he is retiring as a crusader for a noble cause is good news for those elected officials who are prone to chicanery, bad news for those like me, who believe that government should truly be of, by, and for the people.
Mr. Stilp relied on gimmickry, including the famous inflated pink pig, to get the attention of the people, and it worked. Many who might otherwise have chosen to remain oblivious to the workings of state government paid attention and learned something from this fine man.
He recognized that the astounding repeal of the 2005 pay grab did not end the era of corruption and shenanigans in the state capital, that a populace which wishes to be treated fairly by our leaders must be ever-vigilant.
I would never look to former Gov. Ed Rendell as a beacon of honorable public service, but I believe he was completely honest and on target in observations that he made in a lengthy oral history being broadcast by the marvelous Pennsylvania Cable Network. Rendell stated that although he was not naive, he was nevertheless stunned by the level of partisanship that he found to exist in the General Assembly upon election as governor.
He states that he expressed relief to an aide that after re-election to a second and final term, he could expect the partisanship to subside, to which the aide responded, “It won’t.” Rendell said that he learned the members do not arise each morning thinking about how they can serve the people, rather they contemplate how they can “screw over” those on the opposite side of the aisle. Obviously, Mr. Stilp’s work is not done. His baton must be passed to successors.
A tip of the hat to a real, selfless public servant, Gene Stilp. He shall never be forgotten and he cannot be thanked enough for all that he did to improve the quality of those who represent us and steer the state toward the tenets of the Founding Fathers.
Oren M. Spiegler
Upper Saint Clair