Senate Journal: Page 2: Monday, January 13, 2003
So let’s not waste our time debating whether education or economic growth is our
top priority. Instead, we will continue to invest in and to improve our education
systems, but we work equally as hard to create "destinations", that is, jobs so there is a
vision for the desired future for our young people in Iowa.
We must seek new questions. For instance, the same multiple choice question is
raised every time the Medicaid program is discussed. When asked, how will we fix
Medicaid?, five multiple choice answers are given-cut benefits, cut eligibility, cut
provider payment, all of the above, or none of the above. Because none of these
actually solve the problem, none of the above has been the answer. Let’s ask a new
question. What do the various customers being served by the Medicaid program need?
Then we can look for new ways of providing those needs. This will require cooperation
and collaboration, not name calling and fingerpointing. In other words, leadership.
Harry Truman said, ". . . in periods where there is no leadership, society stands still.
Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change
things for the better." We were elected to lead and we have opportunity to change
things for the better.
Iowa has severe economic problems to be sure. But due to some unique structural
foresight and some very difficult decision making over the past few years, our problems
are not of the magnitude of many other states. We have a unique opportunity, if we
are nimble and innovative enough, to create a business platform for growth that will
vault us into a leadership position among the states and in the world.
We then have another opportunity-culminating in January 2004-when the caucus
system will thrust us into the world limelight for several months. If we have made the
changes we need to make, we will have a great story to tell, and the marketing and
promotion opportunity provided during that time period can be priceless! The window
of opportunity is short. Will we seize these opportunities for leadership?
The words to a song written for the Olympics several years ago say-"give me one
moment in time to be more than I thought I could be-when all of my dreams are a
heartbeat away and the answers are all up to me." We have been given our one
moment in time.
Nelson Mandela, in his 1994 inaugural, provided these words-about the power and
responsibility of each individual in relationship to their higher calling.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that
we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that
most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of
God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing
enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure
around you. You were born to make manifest the glory of God that is
within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our
light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically
liberates others."
I believe we have a common vision for the desired future of Iowa. It is a vision of a
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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