Now make sure those smooth talkers walk the walk

Frontiersman editorial board

If actions speak louder than words, than today is the beginning of some very loud times for voters who care to listen. When the polls close tonight, the time of candidates' words -- thankfully -- will be past, and the time of action will be poised to begin. For months now the candidates have been talking up solutions to all of our ills, and now those of us who think it's important can watch them to see if they will actually follow through.

If your candidate promised to "grow the economy and stay out of your pockets," it's important to see if he keeps that promise. If your candidate said we'd have to "make some sacrifices and change the way we think about taxes," we need to know if her plan can actually be passed, and if so, we have to track its success or failure.

The other thing to remember is that winning an election is the beginning of a new level of responsibility for these candidates. From here on out, their performance, and the benefits and consequences of that performance, is theirs alone. We should not allow candidates to blame one another for the ills of our economy, or anything else for that matter. They all ran under the claim that they'd be different -- that they'd shatter partisan politics and do what was right for the state. Candidates always run under that premise.

Unfortunately, when the election has passed, and the rhetoric begins to crumble under the weight of reality, very few candidates are willing to step up to the plate and take responsibility. That's when it's always the other guy's fault. That's when the other party is blocking key legislation or when the problems caused by the previous administration are finally coming home to roost. How often have we heard that one? "Our plan would have worked had the last administration not caused such a mess."

If politicians should be anything, they should be accountable. When their plans are still in the talk phase, they are all sure of themselves. Once those plans enter the action phase, it is up to us to hold them to their promises and assertions. First, we need to hold them to their promises. Then, once they've followed through, we must insist they display the character they ran on. They should be willing to take the blame along with the praise, and they should be willing to change directions if their promises don't hold the water of

action.