Senate Journal: Page 2: Monday, January 8, 2001

  Theodore Roosevelt said, "Far and away the best prize that life offers is
  the chance
  to work hard at work worth doing."  What we do here is work worth doing.

  If we seize the opportunity to move an agenda forward, we will serve our
  constituents well . . . those folks who put their trust in us by giving us a
  precious gift-
  their vote.

  I have no doubt we can agree on large themes:

  Economic development.
  By definition, increasing and enhancing the quality and number of jobs and
  increasing private and public wealth.  Only by doing this, do we make
  possible the
  necessary investments in public service, facilities, and infrastructure that
  lead to the
  enhanced quality of life we all want.  Encourage, even demand, participation
  by
  business and civic leaders, along with elected public leadership, to form
  collaborative
  and committed partnerships.

  World-class education.
  From earliest childhood to graduate levels of specialty.  Every child
  arriving at
  school ready to learn; every child being challenged to reach their full
  potential; and
  every child having a well-prepared and caring teacher in every year and in
  every
  subject.

  Quality of life unmatched elsewhere.
  From air and water quality to superior public health to attractions that
  reflect our
  values and showcase our best traditions.

  Care for all our citizens.
  Especially those who need it most . . . those who are mentally ill, those
  who are
  disabled, those who need a temporary helping hand.

  And our children.
  In the words of the agenda of the Children's Defense Fund, "It is time for
  American
  adults (us) to stop our moral hypocrisy and live the values we want our
  children to
  learn.  If we want them to stop being violent, then we should stop being
  violent.  If we
  want them to be honest, then we should be honest.  Parents, teachers,
  preachers, and
  public officials must conduct themselves as they would want their child-or
  any child-
  to emulate.  Our children need consistent love, time, attention, discipline,
  family
  stability, and limits at home and in school, and they need to see that
  adults in their
  nation, private sector, and their communities value and care for them-not as
  consumers or future customers to be exploited, nor as a nonvoting group to
  be
  ignored-but as heirs of America's institutions and values."  So our
  behavior, as well as
  our policy making, is worthy of scrutiny.

  Embrace our agriculture heritage.
  See biotechnology not only as an economic driver, but also as one with the
  potential
  to feed the world.  Accept the knowledge that we must accept changes in our
  mythology
  of farming.  Our roots are deep, and change of the magnitude required feels
  like giving
  up what we believe.  But "value-added" are not just words . . . they are
  required for
  sustainability.

  Power to the people.

© 2001 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments about this site or page? sjourn@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.

Last update: Sun Jan 13 11:17:37 CST 2002
URL: /DOCS/GA/79GA/Session.1/SJournal/00000/00002.html
jhf