Stacey Moncrieff, Editor in Chief of Realtor(r) Magazine states in the October 2011 publication that some Realtors are taking "issue with NAR's efforts to advocate on behalf of the real estate industry." And she adds: "But if your own association can't fight for your industry, who can?" She further elaborates that it is up to "Members of Congress ... to evaluate the competing interests and make wise decisions." And this my friends is the exact reason our political and governmental landscape is broken and needs to be overhauled!
Not because we try to empower "smart people" to make those wise decisions and vote them out if they fail to do so. But, because every industry, every organization, every association, every union and every anything that has the ability to muster any kind of political influence does so for what's good for THEM without much/any regard to what is FOR THE COMMON GOOD, what is sustainable, what is best practice, what is in the best interests for the country at large, etc. Yep, it's about advocating for what works for your membership and constituents now without ever demonstrating that your demands/requirements truly do what any long-term forward thinker of this country would support. Come on, our politicians are not about long-term forward thinking either and so many of their decisions come at a price, a huge price for the American people down the road. Unfortunately, we are starting to pay for this broken system and short-term thinking with the potential for some castrophic consequences later.
I wish my industry would rise above the status quo and lead this nation of political activists by setting an example of how they should be measured, how their policies meet the demands of this nation and solve problems beyond the real estate industry. I guarantee that in the end, if they did so, they would pay huge dividends to their membership base and any homeowner in this country - the very bodies of which they are fighting for. Maybe they have to "take one on the chin" to demonstrate how serious they are about making good policy.
