The Passing of Wisdom
Jon Hunstman Jr., Utah's 16th governor, was four years old when Calvin Rampton, Utah's 11th governor, was first elected in 1964. But as the youthful state chief executive sat in a hospice room to visit his predecessor in what was to be one of the last days of Rampton's long and brilliant life, the elder statesman passed on a gem that hopefully Huntsman can use for the good of all Utahns.
"What is the greatest problem facing public service today?" the young Republican governor asked the old Democrat. Without a pause, Rampton replied: "The lack of civility. People don't dare cross the political divide. The system has become too darn mean."
Huntsman related that story to a packed LDS stake center audience attending Rampton's funeral Friday. He delivered that message with such enthusiasm and such passion, one hopes Rampton's words struck a chord with the sitting governor nearly half his age.
Meanness in politics has not been part of Huntsman's portfolio. He has not been one of the meanies Rampton was referring to. But he is in a position to take Rampton's wisdom and do something about it.
Let's hope he can.
Cheers,
Paul Rolly
"What is the greatest problem facing public service today?" the young Republican governor asked the old Democrat. Without a pause, Rampton replied: "The lack of civility. People don't dare cross the political divide. The system has become too darn mean."
Huntsman related that story to a packed LDS stake center audience attending Rampton's funeral Friday. He delivered that message with such enthusiasm and such passion, one hopes Rampton's words struck a chord with the sitting governor nearly half his age.
Meanness in politics has not been part of Huntsman's portfolio. He has not been one of the meanies Rampton was referring to. But he is in a position to take Rampton's wisdom and do something about it.
Let's hope he can.
Cheers,
Paul Rolly
5:06 PM
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1 Comments:
There's a great deal of incivility, a win-at-all-costs mentality on both sides of a lot of issues.
This is hardly any issue that is worth such rancor.
Vouchers is an issue that is becoming that way in Utah. I don't care so much which side wins as whether the opposite camps can remain friends while disagreeing with each other.
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