How long is too long to hold office? When you start thinking of yourself as indispensable. Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller has hit that point.
His words last week describing why he will seek re-election after declaring this term his last make it clear. “Decisions are not always about individuals. It?s not always about what?s best for oneself.”
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First, he speaks of himself in the third person, as if he is disconnected from his decision to run and to hold office and as if his ego floats above him in some higher realm while his body does the dirty work of wielding power.
Second, he uses obtuse reasons to describe why he should remain in office, not specific examples of why it makes sense. “You think about people, people that have sustained you. You decide there are more important things in this world.” Huh? Could somebody translate for us? This is the political speak used to confuse people as to his real meaning.
Does this mean, “I am not ready to give up power and want another term”? Or maybe, “I still have not earmarked anything for 10 companies I strong-armed to support my campaign and those of other Democrats”? Or maybe, more altruistically, “I have not yet fulfilled the true meaning of public servant after 34 years and need one more term to represent the people of Prince George?s and Calvert counties”? Who knows?
Whatever the reason, he gives no reason to indicate the state will fall apart without his leadership or that Democrats will losetheir majority without his guidance or some other dire consequence. Neither does he say what he wants to accomplish. We will just not have him.
And that?s OK. We survived as a nation after the great George Washington ? a man who could have become close to a king ? voluntarily left office after two terms. And we will be OK when Miller leaves ? would have been OK if he retired before the last election, even. If anything, it is best for Miller to step down before he is ready. Many family businesses fail because founders do not know when or how to give up power, and bring their companies down in the process. Besides, legislators were not meant to become kingfish, as Miller has been described. Government cannot fail even when it fails the people. As British historian Lord Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Step down, Mike. Show us you can give up power as well as you wielded it.
