Jimmy Carter – Another Georgian's perspective | Eastern North Carolina Now

Bobby Tony comments on Jimmy Carter

    For the record, I voted for Jimmy Carter in the Georgia Governor election (not the presidential). I have met him on numerous occasions as well. My family and I have contributed to his Habitat for Humanity as well as participating in several house-building projects. I was trying to teach my children the value of giving back with more than just a check. I think he is one of the most decent and caring men of faith you will find. He is a role model for the Christian faith even to the point of naively assuming that everyone has the same Christian Charity towards each other.

    His term as Government was by most accounts including my own, successful. He was able to reorganize the Government. "Under Carter's "zero-based budgeting" plan, state departments and agencies, rather than submitting an aggregate budget figure, supposedly started from scratch each year, evaluating and justifying every dollar they requested." (1)

    The country was still mad about the pardon of Richard Nixon by Gerald Ford. Jimmy oversold his Good intentions religion and intentions do not always create good results. My point is that I have no doubt on the sincerity of JC's religious beliefs. It is just his competence as a President that I had concerns about.

    Lillian epitomizes the classic southern woman. Sweet as can be but hard as nails when necessary. Most from the Northern, regions do not really understand the strength of the South always rested in the women down here. It may be one of the few southern traits that GWTW got correct. Our strength as a culture has always and probably always will be based on a chivalry and respect for women even though we often did not treated them as equals. They are the backbone of our heritage all wrapped up in a sweet genteel package that can explode when tampered with unduly.

    Among some of Jimmy's problems are that he alienated his own party with his process oriented approach to management and arrogant attitude toward the entrenched politicians. In Washington if you cross the Kennedy's you are toast. He was a micro manager as most engineers are. His concerns were on process and not vision. He overrode the suggestions of the military on the number of helicopters and staffing necessary for the rescue of the hostages in Iran. We will never really know if the mission would have been successful either way.

    He had no base in the Democratic Party and few friends in the federal government, making it difficult for him to achieve his purposes.

    Government is the acquisition and application of power. Many people may start out with idealistic mindset of doing what is good for the public. However, once in office they and faced with the necessity of dealing with people who may have been attracted to the office for no reason than power. It also attracts people with strong egos. Power and Ego make for a difficult compromise.

    Politics is the process of compromise and persuasion. The American System is based on not allowing one person or group of people to bulldoze the rest. The whole structure of our government is designed for slow methodical movement and action. It is specifically set up so that we do not overreact in any one direction or the other during moments of heightened emotional situations. It took fourteen years between the Declaration of Independence and ratification of the Constitution by all thirteen colonies.

    Unfortunately, it is also based on an enlightened voting public as the final check and balance. I think setting legal term limits would deteriorate into a job interview for better paying jobs after government service. A senator, for instance, would have six years to make contacts with the rich and powerful to insure future fame and fortune. Do not misunderstand me as not being in favor of rich and powerful people. We may disagree on how they got that way, by my belief is that most rich and powerful people got that way by providing a product or service that attracted the most consumers. I could make a fortune if I was the only Buggy Whip manufacturer in the USA. That would only be true if the year was 1880 and Henry Ford had never been born. But is not true today in 2015.

    In the final analysis, laws and crony connections will always rule until the electorate decides to make a change. We have done that in the past and most likely will in the future. It is a messy business but so far, I think it is still the best system ever designed by man. However, it requires an educated and involved public.

    August 2015 update - Jimmy Carter announced he has cancer at 90 years old

    The announcement of Jimmy Carter recently that he has cancer of the liver and brain was probably his finest hour in my opinion. He demonstrated the character and conviction of his Christian beliefs. He has accepted his fate with a calm demeanor and is at peace with his maker and with the world of whatever outcome should evolve.

    It is also illustrative that his wife Rosalynn and mother the late Miss Lillian provided the rock solid foundation necessary for the rough and tumble world of politics as well as life. I have posted before on Chauvinism and Chivalry in a somewhat humorous vein. We southerners often get the two confused but growing up without the unconditional love of a mother and later wife is almost a guarantee of a failed life. It has been my privilege to be present when fellow soldiers are dying and they know it. After the medics have done their best and the end is near they often looked up and ask for peace from either Mom, God or both in no particular order.

    I write this not as a eulogy to Jimmy Carter but more as an internal reminder to myself that even in a world of differing opinions and strong political differences, there is a place for a true Christian spirit. There will be plenty of time to debate the issues but for now, I offer a tribute to a man who tried to follow his convictions and was rewarded with a long and eventful life. Not many could ask for more.

    I hope I live long enough to write a personal eulogy many years down the road for James Earl Carter, Jr.

   (1) LINK TO JAMES CARTER FROM GEORGAI ENCYCLOPEDIA