The lost art of teaching by example

"I'm not sure it's the job of us legislators to teach our constituents about representative government."

-- Missouri representative

The above statement was made by a well-respected state legislator as he was being interviewed about one of the bills he had introduced in this year's session that was generally viewed as favoring special interests in the state. As I wrote his statement, I reminded myself that I was a mere journalist obligated to report facts accurately, and that I lacked the privilege of challenging his remarks, only reporting them.

But to be very honest about it, I wanted to shut off my recorder, put the pencil away and launch into a feverish lecture about his obligation to be as objective as he was subjective and to view his tenure as a privilege, enabling him to demonstrate the efficacy of the best-created system of representative government ever fashioned by the mind of man.

Every year about this time, as the state legislature moves into hectic speed to complete its assigned duties and compile an unspecified number of bills that will at least keep angry mobs of constituents away form their doors, I begin wishing that the obligations of members of "the people's branch of government," as Jefferson called it, could lead our state by example rather than the demonstration of pure partisan pursuit.

Hundreds of new laws and regulations are introduced, amended and enacted or rejected each year by the Missouri General Assembly, primarily because members think this is what they're supposed to do. It seldom seems to occur to the 197 members of "the people's branch" that they weren't elected to two- or four-year terms just to introduce a bill that would correct the degree of tint permitted on car windows or to amend existing law to favor the client of a constituent who was the most generous contributor to their last campaign treasury.

Without many realizing it, Missouri's legislators automatically become not only high-profile examples of our democratic system, but they inherit the characteristics of a teacher as well, demonstrating to one and all how self-government is meant to function. Representatives and senators alike teach the rest of us the lessons of democracy by their words, their actions, their records in office. Superb legislators are Class A teachers; lazy, indifferent, even slightly corrupt lawmakers are the worst of all instructors.

How do our Missouri legislators stack up as teachers? Well, here are a few of the subjects they have taught us, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure they should be certified to teach another year. But you make up your own mind.

Lesson No. 1: Public policy is less important than partisan politics. This year's session has been filled with examples of this lesson that's been taught in Jefferson City since last January. As Gov. Bob Holden has attempted to find whatever funds were available to balance next year's budget, all manner of political chicanery has gone into efforts to keep him from succeeding. What a lousy lesson to give our citizens.

Lesson No. 2: Democracy can be traded for expediency. A good example is the effort of the owners of the St. Louis Cardinals to enlist the financial aid of every resident of the state in building their baseball club a new stadium for the purpose of making a greater return on their investment. Legislators who have joined this raid on the state treasury either believe baseball is a more vital component of life than public schools, aid for the poor or treatment for the mentally ill or they are willing to support the cause of the wealthy over the welfare of the most vulnerable among us. Either way, it is a horrible lesson that has been played out in Jefferson City for months.

Lesson No. 3: The will of the people is not always the supreme law of the land, despite the good intentions chiseled on government buildings across America. Nor does the Latin inscription that is a part of the Great Seal of Missouri remain unblemished at times, despite its pledge to let "The welfare of the people be the supreme law." If the will of the majority is such a vital part of our state's symbols, what were the lawmakers doing this session as they sought to reverse a majority decision to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals and those intent on doing harm to innocent citizens? Calling this a blatant disregard of the majority's will is not overstating the case.

Lesson No. 4: Tough problems and politically dangerous problems can be solved by transferring or postponing them to the next set of lawmakers who will gather in Jefferson City. It has been obvious for at least a year, and hinted at over a longer period of time, that Missouri was facing a budgetary moment of truth, although it was never talked about above a whisper for a long, long time. Teaching that tough problems can be postponed until tomorrow despite the need for attention yesterday, the impending budget shortfalls were foreseen by some long before any mention was made to those who would have to pick up the tab: the taxpayers.

Lesson No. 5: Load up on as many freebies as the law allows or fails to mention. Several retiring lawmakers have signed up for state-funded trips this fall, some dealing with how to cope with problems of the future. Since the last vote that counts for anything will have occurred on the session's final day, the future is no longer in the hands of these lawmakers. But, moral or not, they're eager to get as much as they can before leaving public life. Is there no shame in Jefferson City?

Lesson No. 6: Some outgoing officials should be reminded that numerous constituents are looking forward to their retirement, while hoping they have no plans for a comeback.

Jack Stapleton is the editor of Missouri News & Editorial Service.