‘All Politics is Local’ is an opinion column written by John Lyons, a member of West Hartford’s Democratic Town Committee.

By John Lyons

Each month I examine national issues and offer my thoughts on how West Hartford (and we as residents) are impacted. You’ll be surprised at how much seemingly small, or out-of-sight issues have a big impact on all of us.

I am covering a few things this month as we head out of political season and into the holiday season. There is a disclaimer that accompanies my article each month (including this one) stating that I am a member of the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee. It is the only part of my monthly column that I don’t write (other than perhaps correction of some grammatical errors and the like). It was written by my managing editor. I certainly agree with it appearing here as I think I would be expected to have a bias that would ostensibly favor the Democrats and you, the reader, should know this going in.

As a one-time registered Republican, I am curious about two aspects of the incoming Trump administration that I think could provide some interesting but potentially concerning results: The first is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. having been nominated as Director of Health and Human Services (HHS). While I think history will show he was wholly unqualified to lead that agency, his thoughts on processed foods and artificial ingredients are perhaps a small silver lining. Can the U.S. face this and make changes to make food better without a revolt from the food manufacturers or voters? I believe he is likely to be confirmed by the senate despite his lack of qualifications and experience in traditional medicine and dubious skepticism in same.

Secondly is the naming of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead an ad hoc group to go after government waste and eliminate it. Known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), this wordplay on a largely worthless cryptocurrency seems to signal a real effort to cut government waste and reduce both the deficit and the national debt.

Both have some benefits in theory. Processed foods are proven contributors to obesity and poor health, and our government is trillions in debt and runs a huge deficit each year adding to that debt and needs to find a way to reduce the burden on future Americans.

There are two major problems here:

With respect to Kennedy and his lack of education in and understanding of western medicine, if he succeeds in pushing through some of his more controversial beliefs like removing vaccine requirements, for example, we will see a recurrence of diseases once thought just about completely eradicated. Measles will make a comeback. Mortality rates will climb for all age groups. Also, valuable and well qualified professionals will either not want to work for the government (opting for the increased credibility of the private sector) or leave their current jobs in one of the HHS departments and find work elsewhere. They will invariably be replaced by a less qualified and less skilled workforce whose ideology aligns with leadership, or they will not be replaced at all.

DOGE has a whole different set of challenges. They have already published a list of federal government employees that they deem surplus or wasteful. These lower-level employees have felt threatened and are scared for their careers and in some cases, well-being. The administration isn’t even being sworn in for another 50 days as if this writing.

An inauspicious start.

Other challenges DOGE will face will be lobbyists and Congress. Perhaps people will be fine with cuts until the cuts impact their constituency or income potential. I don’t think Elon or Vivek has any idea what to expect once angry lobbyists or powerful senators get in their space or worse, get to Trump as neither seem to have any experience dealing with them. Cutting the budget always sounds great until the actual proposed cuts are seen by lobbyists, leaders, and citizens.

The tie-in here is that it is that highly trained government employees are likely going to leave the government. Fear or loss of credibility will be the main drivers. If you blindly attack employees, they will leave.  If you offer poor management or support, they will leave. Employees are an organization’s most important and strongest asset.

A project like DOGE has to be a partnership, not a social media blitz attack mission with zero regard for stakeholders.

All politics is local: I am writing this the day after Thanksgiving. Two nights earlier, a terrible tragedy occurred near where I live as a pedestrian woman and her dog were hit and killed by a car almost two hours after sunset. The road was closed for most of the night while the investigation took place. A family here in town now faces the reality that a dear loved one is gone.

I had to travel some yesterday as family and friends came in via train and I was the designated driver to pick them up. I kept seeing the sign on the highway that I am sure many of you saw as well.  It stated “303 KILLED ON CT ROADS THIS YEAR” all in bold caps.

I can’t help but think with a heavy heart that the number is now 304.

It was quickly following media reports being posted that the blame started. Mostly on social media, some had fair questions wondering about the street lighting in the area, or if there was a driver blind spot or painted crosswalk, but some went after town employees and elected officials by name and even politicized it while providing no credible suggestions as to how to make our roads safer or any understanding of the actual circumstances of the accident and subsequent and ongoing investigation.

This was not the first time town employees had been attacked online in recent weeks. I find it appalling when it happens.  We have some of the most professional, well-trained, detail-oriented, non-partisan employees in the state and likely, the country. The quickest path to losing great employees and having a pool of mediocre and weak candidates is mistreating them.

You see the parallels?

I am all for DOGE in theory. IF they can understand what government employees’ roles are within the agency. IF they car objectively evaluate where waste is and eliminate it and IF they can do it while preserving our hard working federal employees dignity and trust. And I wish them the best of luck with lobbyists and Congress.

Our town employees are an incredible asset that helps distance West Hartford from just about every other community as one of the best towns to live and work in the USA. Let’s offer them the support to continue to be great at their jobs.

Just as my deadline hit, Trump announced that Kash Patel is his nomination for FBI director. Patel has said he wants to gut the agency. Leave your political beliefs out of the answer you give to this question: How would you feel if someone was hired to run the company you work for who has openly called for the dismantling of your company? Wouldn’t you be sending out your resume immediately? I sure would be!

Quality and experienced people must lead organizations if they expect to have quality employees. West Hartford has earned their good fortune, and we need to stand behind those hard working folks to keep them. Let’s hope the federal government can do so as well.

I’ll see you next month.

The views expressed represent the opinion of John Lyons, and are not intended to represent the opinion of We-Ha.com or the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee.

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