Moral Dilemna
If I haven't mentioned this before, I am a staunch Democrat. In fact, I am a left wing Democrat. I come from a family and a town where it was taboo to even think about voting Republican. I broke this taboo only once in 1990 when I voted for Governor Weld. I liked Bill Weld and was fearful of Silver so I cast my vote for a Republican and I don't regret it!
My local state Representative is Cory Atkins. I have voted for her a number of times and I voted for her husband, Chet, when he held the same position. I would continue to vote for Cory every time she asks for my vote, but I'm mad at her. My anger doesn't arise from her political stance nor her voting record; it is more personal.
You see, Cory Atkin's house is on the market and I am a realtor in Concord where she lives. Now I would never expect to get the listing because I don't even know Cory. But, the house has been on the market for 222 days and over the course of the listing period she has hired not one but two realtors (one after the other) to sell her property (unsuccessfully I might add) who are two of the most conservative Republicans in the brokerage community (if not the entire town). I know how right wing these two individuals are; I am sure Cory knows too.
So, am I wrong to think that a politician should be aware of who she gives her business to? The house is on the market for $1,699,000 Conservatively at 5% Corey will pay over $80,000 to the real estate agency of which more than half will go into the individual realtor's pocket. So, she is handing over more than $40,000 to a person who not only isn't going to vote for her, but in fact, endorses the exact opposite political opinion.
I feel like writing to Ms. Atkins to tell her that I for one have noticed her choice of realtors - twice! There are literally hundreds of realtors in Concord alone - many of whom are Democrats like me. Couldn't she have chosen someone from her own Party? Couldn't she put her money where her mouth is?
I have gone over and over this logic in my head. Am I being ridiculous? Does selling your house have anything to do with politics? Would I ask the same of other people? But, doesn't a politician have different priorities than the rest of us? Shouldn't a politician at least try to support her constituents with work and money?
I would be glad to hear opinions from anyone reading this blog. I am in a quandary. Do I have the right to be mad at Cory Atkins? I want to vote for her in the next election - but I certainly don't feel like I support her on a personal level. What's a good Democrat like me supposed to do????
Real Estate Hint: In Massachusetts we have a step in the purchasing process called a Purchase and Sale. The Purchase and Sale is the legal document that spells out all the conditions of the sale. Although the real estate office drafts the Purchase and Sale, it is strongly advised that both the buyers and the sellers hire an attorney to review the P and S. Attorneys always add their own riders to the document that further protects their clients. A cynic might say that the attorneys add boiler plate riders and therefore do not warrant their cost. But, if there is a problem with the P&S it is the attorneys that iron it out. As a Realtor, I am never comfortable with a client who doesn't hire an attorney to review their P&S. Too often, the client is being "penny wise, dollar foolish".
My local state Representative is Cory Atkins. I have voted for her a number of times and I voted for her husband, Chet, when he held the same position. I would continue to vote for Cory every time she asks for my vote, but I'm mad at her. My anger doesn't arise from her political stance nor her voting record; it is more personal.
You see, Cory Atkin's house is on the market and I am a realtor in Concord where she lives. Now I would never expect to get the listing because I don't even know Cory. But, the house has been on the market for 222 days and over the course of the listing period she has hired not one but two realtors (one after the other) to sell her property (unsuccessfully I might add) who are two of the most conservative Republicans in the brokerage community (if not the entire town). I know how right wing these two individuals are; I am sure Cory knows too.
So, am I wrong to think that a politician should be aware of who she gives her business to? The house is on the market for $1,699,000 Conservatively at 5% Corey will pay over $80,000 to the real estate agency of which more than half will go into the individual realtor's pocket. So, she is handing over more than $40,000 to a person who not only isn't going to vote for her, but in fact, endorses the exact opposite political opinion.
I feel like writing to Ms. Atkins to tell her that I for one have noticed her choice of realtors - twice! There are literally hundreds of realtors in Concord alone - many of whom are Democrats like me. Couldn't she have chosen someone from her own Party? Couldn't she put her money where her mouth is?
I have gone over and over this logic in my head. Am I being ridiculous? Does selling your house have anything to do with politics? Would I ask the same of other people? But, doesn't a politician have different priorities than the rest of us? Shouldn't a politician at least try to support her constituents with work and money?
I would be glad to hear opinions from anyone reading this blog. I am in a quandary. Do I have the right to be mad at Cory Atkins? I want to vote for her in the next election - but I certainly don't feel like I support her on a personal level. What's a good Democrat like me supposed to do????
Real Estate Hint: In Massachusetts we have a step in the purchasing process called a Purchase and Sale. The Purchase and Sale is the legal document that spells out all the conditions of the sale. Although the real estate office drafts the Purchase and Sale, it is strongly advised that both the buyers and the sellers hire an attorney to review the P and S. Attorneys always add their own riders to the document that further protects their clients. A cynic might say that the attorneys add boiler plate riders and therefore do not warrant their cost. But, if there is a problem with the P&S it is the attorneys that iron it out. As a Realtor, I am never comfortable with a client who doesn't hire an attorney to review their P&S. Too often, the client is being "penny wise, dollar foolish".
You have the right to be mad-- but couldn't you forward her your blog posting instead of living mad? I'd be mad too. But since you wrote it all down, (so well) can you take the next step and let her know? Maybe she really doesn't get it? melinda
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