Elections?
Dr. Carly Fiorina believes her prior experience running a major academic institution makes her the most qualified. However, the other candidates would be quick to point out that she had been fired! Like some other academics, she had been forced to take many positions around the country and so she did not have a local constituency to support her. On the other hand, having lectured all over the world she would have many international contacts including “knowing Vladimir Putin.” Of course, no one would know what that would offer the SVS.
Dr. Rand Paul, a Vascular Surgeon with a strong interest in Amaurosis Fugax, wants the SVS to save its money and not do anything. In fact, he thinks it should not be involved in any aspect of vascular surgery, leaving everything up to the individual practitioner or other specialties. His views are also held to a large degree by Dr. Ben Carson. As a retired pediatric neurosurgeon from Johns Hopkins, he would try to follow in the highly respected footsteps of presidents Perler and Freischlag, also from Hopkins. Since he believes brain surgeons are the smartest, he would claim that he could be the President of the SVS even with his eyes closed. To prove this, he would give most of his speeches with closed eyes.
Dr. Kasich was the President of the Ohio Vascular Society. He would argue that if voters only paid attention to what he has accomplished in Ohio, he would get everyone’s vote. But he would be concerned that since he had never published his results in any national journal, no one would respect him.
Well, that’s perhaps how the candidates would do their electioneering. But what if our national election were to be held in the manner we elect our SVS Executives? Rather than allowing the public to hear all the candidates express their viewpoints over and over in a multitude of televised debates, a small group would determine who should be nominated. According to the bylaws of the SVS, they would be the last two surviving ex-presidents (Bush and Clinton) as well one Governor elected by all the Governors, one Senator elected by the Senate and one person elected by the nation. This nominating committee would then invite the entire voting public to a luncheon on the Washington Mall, where the attendees would accept their recommendations voting by acclamation. Of course, most voters would not attend since it would be too inconvenient and expensive to make the trip to this luncheon.
After all, they would have to take time away from their jobs. As a result the vast majority of the “voting” public would in essence be excluded from the electoral process. Not very democratic – but certainly efficient. Further, who better to assess the candidates’ potential than these esteemed members of the nominating committee? But is it efficiency that we really need? Should we not rather have a fully open election in which potential candidates can express their goals for the SVS? This could be achieved by publishing their platforms in this Newspaper. This would enfranchise all of our members to participate in the election of candidates that represent their own goals for the Society.
To tell the truth, I am ambivalent as to which method is preferable, but it is at least worth discussion. Why don’t you use the “Letters to the Editor” section of this, our official newspaper, to make your viewpoint heard? If that is not possible in your schedule, then take a few minutes and click this link to take our poll and place your vote for the option you prefer.
Dr. Russell H. Samson is a physician in the practice of Samson, Showalter, Lepore, and Nair, and clinical professor of surgery, Florida State University, Tallahassee. He is also the medical editor of Vascular Specialist.
