Who Would You Miss More, Your Mayor or Your Mailman?

Occasionally, a story presents itself in a way that sparks a train of thought beyond its original intent. Such was the case with a story on this Saturday's Weekend Edition.

The title of the Saturday segment was "Veteran journalist Sam Roberts discusses the art of the obit in, 'Are They Dead Yet?'" The story was an interview with Roberts about his book, Are They Dead Yet?, and the craft of writing obituaries for The New York Times.

Although a story about writing obituaries might not sound like a high-profile feature, it was interesting. In particular, near the end, Roberts made a thought-provoking statement.

"There are no ordinary lives. One obituarist said, 'Who would you miss more, your mayor or your mailman?'"

That is a profound statement, especially given the self-importance that seems to infect so many elected officials — including some here in Elk Grove.

For those who care to look, how often do we see our local elected officials posing for social media posts not with the constituents they were elected to serve, but alongside higher-status elected officials, as if proximity to someone farther up the political food chain somehow elevates their own stature?

Better yet, how often do we see the Elk Grove mayor or one or more of her councilmen posting from exclusive social settings — galas, receptions, dinners and other invitation-only gatherings — while many of the people they represent are dealing with grocery bills, housing costs, utility increases and every other economic pressure screaming, Let them eat cake!

Social media has given politicians a remarkable tool for communicating directly with constituents. Too often, however, it becomes a digital vanity mirror: Look where I am. Look who I'm with. Look at the important event I was invited to.

The intended message may be public service. The message received can be something quite different: I have access you don't have.

We can hardly wait to see the inevitable pictures of Her Honor and one or three of her city councilmen posing for selfies or alongside higher-status elected and corporate officials at the annual Tower Bridge Dinner.

Nothing says "I'm one of you" quite like dressing up, dining on a meal costing about $350 per person, and broadcasting the experience to constituents who weren't invited. And if someone else provided the ticket or paid through a campaign account, that only makes the symbolism richer: the public gets the pictures; the political class gets dinner.

Of course, attending such events is part of politics. Networking is part of the job. But there is a difference between attending an event because it serves a legitimate public purpose and repeatedly using exclusive access as social-media content designed to advertise one's importance.

Politicians might want to remember something about status: The velvet rope eventually comes down.

Later in the same interview, when Roberts was asked what he had learned about fame or notoriety from writing obituaries, he answered without hesitation:

"Fame is fleeting."

Perhaps that should be printed on a little card and slipped into the gift bags at political galas.

Because today's mayor, councilmember, assemblymember or senator eventually becomes yesterday's officeholder. The invitations stop arriving. The reserved seats disappear. The people who once eagerly posed for photographs suddenly have another reception to attend.

The mailman, meanwhile, still shows up.

So the next time your mayor or city councilman posts another carefully staged social-media photograph that seems to say, Look at me. Look where I am. Look who I know, they might consider the wisdom of an obituary writer who spends his professional life examining what remains after titles, influence and celebrity disappear.

Fame is fleeting.

And when all is said and done, there's a pretty good chance you'll miss your mailman more than your mayor.

The Sunday, September 6 Tower Bridge dinner costs $350 per person. There are about 800 participants, and only 80 tickets are available to the public, if they can afford it!