In a Wednesday afternoon swearing-in ceremony Justice Stephen Lindley started his 14 year term as a State Supreme Court Justice. The ceremony was fittingly in an overflowing Court Room 7, the same place 5 years ago he started as a City Court Judge.

It was a solemn yet light hearted ceremony - who knew Jurists had a sense of humor. Thanks and praise was heaped upon family and friends especially Justice Lindley’s wife Ardis who managed the campaign as well as 3 young kids and gave birth to a fourth 2 weeks before the election.

Justice Lindley’s father was there, the former city councilman gave a wonderful tribute of how his “fame” has ebbed and now he is known simply as Stephen’s father. Stephen’s mother swore him in.

A wonderful and touching ceremony.

Of all the speeches given, what struck me were the words U.S. District Court Judge Siragusa said when referring to Justice Lindley’s new role.

…it is not about the person it is about the position.

Being a Justice is a solemn position. They intepret the law. Their rulings affect the future. None of that is news to Justice Lindley but Judge Siragusa’s words serve as advice to anyone in elected office.

It is about the effective stewardship of the office for the greater societal good as opposed to elected individual accomplishment.

That struck me as a fundamental difference between a progressive philiosophy and what passes for that of a stereotypical politician.

Now, I’m just typing here so I’m sure with more time I could come up with some treatise that effectively outlines the differences between progressive vs non-progressive philosophy but this is a blog and my posts are usually too long anyway. So, the condensed version follows.

Progressives use their position to provide benefit to the most, those in need, and always with a sense of fairness and an eye on the future. Progressives tend to take a longer view and realize the interaction between events. Global warming to homelessness there are causes and effects and progressives look to solve the cause not the effect.

The other side, of course, promotes themselves, what they personally did as opposed to what they enabled the general population to achieve.

Folks - Our government is really about us - not them and we expect our leaders to enable our society to achieve greatness.

As time marches on towards yet another November, listen to the people running for office. Who is it about? Us or them?