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Well, it’s been a long week. Legislators deserve a couple of days
off before hitting the issues again on Monday. Serving in Utah’s
Legislature is difficult because the 45-day period the lawmakers
are in session is so intense and draining. Lawmakers need to go
home, mingle with real people, and recharge for the fights ahead.
Leadership Really Does Matter
Pres. George Bush has been getting a great deal of media
coverage lately related to leadership. All of the major newspapers
and news magazines have done in-depth articles that focus on his
strong leadership. Some of the writers and people quoted obviously
believe Bush is leading the country in the wrong direction, but
he receives high marks for being willing to take on enormous initiatives
(like spreading freedom throughout the world and restructuring Social
Security) and pushing them fearlessly against almost insurmountable
odds. He is being called a “revolutionary.”
Just proposing big initiatives isn’t enough. Bush’s place in history
will depend on how successful he is. Remember that Bill and
Hillary Clinton set out to revamp the country’s entire health
care system. They failed, and that big initiative is barely a footnote
in history.
In Utah, legislators and Gov. Huntsman also have opportunities
for revolutionary leadership Probably the two biggest, most visionary,
most ambitious (and, by far, most expensive) Big Ideas facing lawmakers
this session -- and requiring the most real leadership -- are the
balanced transportation initiative and the Strategic Research &
Development Initiative being promoted by the Salt Lake Chamber,
among other organizations.
These are initiatives that could have transforming impacts on Utah’s
economy and future. The transportation initiative would attack gridlock
and provide mobility across the Wasatch Front as Utah’s population
booms. Projects expected to be constructed over 20 years would be
built in just 10 years, including a near-complete system of light
rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit for the Wasatch Front.
That’s a Big Idea that requires real leadership.
The Strategic Research & Development Initiative is also a Big Idea
that top business leaders believe could be the most important economic
development tool in our generation. Tomorrow’s high-paying jobs
are dependent on new businesses and industries being developed in
exciting new areas of science and technology.
Big Ideas are always difficult and expensive. They always take
real leadership to push them to fruition. A number of people, including
legislators, are stepping up to find ways to make these two Big
Ideas happen. Leadership requires more than simply being visionary.
It also requires great political and organizational skills. It requires
risk-taking and being persuasive. It requires spending one’s political
capital.
We’ll see just how much leadership Utah’s legislators and governor
are willing to provide on these two Big Ideas.
Blogger Insights on HJR1
Rep. Steve Urquhart has a thoughtful blog
entry on the House debate on HJR1, which the credit unions have
targeted with a massive media campaign. “That one side or the other
would promise sure political death over a vote on this one issue
doesn't cause me to lose any sleep,” Urquhart wrote. “It just disgusts
me that special interests could believe (maybe rightly) that they
have such power over the political process.”
Speaking of Blogs, some interesting postings on the blog supporting
construction of the Legacy Highway. Check it out at: http://legacyhotsheet.blogspot.com.
Perspective on Criticism
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That
way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their
shoes.” (Source: Davis County Library newsletter)
Reader Response
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Quotes on Politics
“To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.”
--Elbert Hubbard
"If two men agree on everything, you may be sure that only one
of them is doing the thinking."
--Lyndon B. Johnson
"Whenever a fellow tells me he is bipartisan I know he is going
to vote against me." --Harry Truman
“Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president but they
don't want them to become politicians in the process.” --John
Fitzgerald Kennedy
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