Commissions often just political tools

I have read with interest the saga of the Hispanic Commission in North Plainfield. But my letter today is not because this commission was voted down. My concern, as part of the Hispanic population, is about how political these advisory commissions can become and how little is said about this.

To cite the only example I have on hand at this moment, I'm going to bring your attention to my hometown, Plainfield. We have here nearly 20 commissions and most of them without the capacity to function. Commissions seem to be a political tool to serve the function of pleasantries among allies of whoever is on power.

To pretend that minority commissions are representatives and defenders of a group is to rely heavily on the elected officials, for they are the only ones that pick and choose the commissioners. It is to relinquish whatever power a minority group has gained through the inclusion and desegregation efforts that have been gained until now. Efforts would be better directed to the attention of human rights of all residents, regardless of origin.

Elected officials should not use these commissions as a shield when it comes to knowing their constituents. After all, they have been elected to represent and defend all, not just a few selected ones. A commission on minorities, while some might deem it necessary, would only create an extra layer of bureaucracy that would only continue the perpetuation that minorities can't fend for themselves and will only extend the victim mentality for generations to come.

Grassroots organizations such as the North Plainfield Latino Coalition should be the only necessary tool between constituents and the elected officials, given the fine work that this group is doing in educating both sides mentioned above. A constituent educated of his/her rights is the foremost ally that progress can have.

MARIA PELLUM

Plainfield

This opinion was published on the Courier News
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070102/OPINION02/701020338/1010