SOMETIMES A POLITICAL SUCCESS CAN PRODUCE A POLICY FAILURE

One of my first political science professors at the university I attended was not only a scholar but a fine gentleman as well, equipped with a superb intellect and an impish sense of humor that he used to illustrate his lectures and the lessons that accompanied them. Dr. Carl McCandless was political science chair at Washington University for many years, earning him not only a distinguished career in academic circles but profound respect among inquiring students and aspiring politicians who listened to him carefully in hope of gaining insights into one of the most dangerous and briefly tenured professions known to man, professional politician. Carl was also one of the most influential experts who helped create a new Missouri Constitution back in the 1940s, although he was far from happy with the final form of that document and I might add, editorially speaking, with just cause.

One of the central points made repeatedly in Carl's lectures can be summarized by his contention that "For every policy decision there are consequences." It is wisdom that deserves to be carved on the granite walls of our state Capitol, just below the traditional "Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto."

Carl's mantra has significance not only for the men and women who carry out their officially proscribed duties inside the Capitol, but for every Missourian who is at least 18 years or older and who is eligible if not willing to confirm or deny literally scores of unrecognized public policies, all of which have consequences far beyond casual recognition. Every time a citizen exercises his or her right to vote on proposed constitutional amendments or initiative reference, that person is creating public policy, with or without realization.

When our elected legislators approve a program proposed by either the governor or another member of the General Assembly, these lawmakers are creating and sustaining a public policy that will both directly and indirectly affect the lives of thousands, even millions of Missourians.

Most decisions of public policy, whether state or federal, automatically trigger the expenditure of tax money, even those that appear to bear no cost at all to the public treasury. For example, Gov. Mel Carnahan's decision, seconded by a majority of legislators, to provide benefits for 90,000 Missouri children who had no health insurance, nor any prospect of getting coverage, produces a great number of consequences, some of which will prove challenging to taxpayers in the future but which, overall, will save hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives among the state's most vulnerable citizens. The opportunity to embrace this program came from Washington, although a few states had already originated the program and were bearing far greater costs than those ignoring the problem.

Most of us can agree, this was a beneficial program, although not without consequences, as Carl McCandless so wisely noted decades before. The policy cost, in this instance, represented vast expenditures by future generations who will have no chance of voicing their concerns.

To further illustrate the McCandless axiom, consider Missouri's attempt to deal with a significant increase in crime as the result of an alarming expansion of substance (drug) abuse. State official adopted a policy that caused the construction of hundreds of new prison cells. Unfortunately this cost prevented the investment of scarce funds for detox and clinical facilities to treat addiction, thus causing the state to pay an exorbitant price for only momentary safety. A far wiser policy would have been to begin addiction treatment at the same level of support given mortar and bricks for new prison cells.

Consider the policy errors involved in the recurring campaign nightmares that occur every two years in Missouri, creating an environment that actually discourages public participation and effectively diminishes the public's respect for our democratic system of government. These nightmares have caused an ever-growing number of otherwise patriotic citizens to abandon the electoral process, perhaps forever. It has been political policy to ignore sensible reforms at the expense of disillusioned voters who are convinced that politics is the poison of our precious democracy. The real culprit is not today's participants who simply inherited the problem but earlier policy decisions declaring realistic reform was not the concern of those who once had the power to change it.

Consider the uniquely American policy of freedom of religion and its multiplicity of meanings, which over the span of 223 years has perhaps created more domestic strife than any other single issue. In this instance, the adopted policy of complete freedom is the best assurance to individual citizens that they may choose whatever form of worship best suits their needs. Problems aside, the policy is in the best tradition of a great and moral democracy.

This policy of religious freedom may at times be contentious, even disruptive, but it elevates morality and divinity to levels American can take pride in and receive solace from. It is a uniquely correct policy because it is both just and moral.

It may well be that one of the causes for citizen disillusionment in virtually all forms of our self-government process rests in the almost universal failure to recognize that nothing is more important in a democracy than creating the right, morally just policies and then sticking to them to fulfillment. Unfortunately, today's victories are measured by their enhancement of individual political personalities, who will be soon forgotten, or in the power reservoir of partisan groups.

To paraphrase both Carl McCandless and Albert Einstein, policy without politics is lame, while politics without policy is blind. How far in the future can we really see if we have no vision?

~Jack Stapleton of Kennett is the editor of Missouri News and Editorial Service.