LITTLE ROCK — IT ALWAYS does a body good to see young people care enough to get involved. Whether through their church or school or club or just on their own.
Once upon a time, believe it or not, politics was thought of as a worthy endeavor, too-a high calling. The best people in the country might seek public office. Yes, there were always those who were cynical about politics even then. Politics involves power, and power invites abuse-and the cynicism the rest of us are tempted to feel for it. Yet politics also can attract the great and great-hearted. Where’s a Washington or an Adams when you need one? Or just an Adlai Stevenson. We know the republic can’t be led by Founders in every generation. But right now we’d settle for ladies and gentlemen.
Jacob Holloway of Arkansas and the Green Party might one day help give politics a good name again. That could happen sooner than anybody thinks, including Jacob Holloway, if he wins an election he’s not supposed to.
The 24-year-old is on the ballot for Congress this November in the state’s First Congressional District. He’s running against the incumbent, Rick Crawford, and other challengers.
Except there’s this little detail standing in his way. It’s called the United States Constitution. We quote it, from Article 1,Section 2: “. . . . No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years . . . .”
The paperwork on Jacob Holloway says he won’t turn 25 until next March.
There was some ado about all that last week. The secretary of state’s office jiggled some elbows at Green Party HQ. Some of the Green higher-ups say the state should stay out of it. After all, it’s Congress that determines whom it’ll seat. For its part again, the state says Mr. Holloway can stay on the ballot. Law, shmaw.
But as refreshing as Greens can be on occasion, it’ll be quite a surprise if this one is elected to Congress from Arkansas this year. So there probably won’t be a constitutional crisis. It’s doubtful a Green like Mr. Holloway will be elected just now.
But whatever the outcome of this vote or at the polls or even in court, it ought not discourage the Jacob Holloways. At least he’s trying his hand at what used to be thought of as a noble profession. Maybe politics has fallen in public esteem because it doesn’t attract as many idealistic young people as it used to. So let’s hope it can attract more Jacob Holloways; American politics already has enough old fogies.
So welcome to the fray, young man, whatever your politics. By the way, can you tell us something about them? It’d be nice to know.
Editorial, Pages 10 on 07/23/2012