2006.02.20: February 20, 2006: Headlines: COS - Guatemala: Legislature: Traditional Thinkers: Wyoming Tribune-Eagle: Guatemala RPCV Keith Goodenough says traditional thinkers dominate the entire legislative and political processes, and they are a group that has a definite and identifiable way of looking at the world
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2006.02.20: February 20, 2006: Headlines: COS - Guatemala: Legislature: Traditional Thinkers: Wyoming Tribune-Eagle: Guatemala RPCV Keith Goodenough says traditional thinkers dominate the entire legislative and political processes, and they are a group that has a definite and identifiable way of looking at the world
Guatemala RPCV Keith Goodenough says traditional thinkers dominate the entire legislative and political processes, and they are a group that has a definite and identifiable way of looking at the world
Traditional thinkers do not question the status quo; they defend the status quo at all costs. It does not matter that there might be overwhelming evidence pointing to massive failures within the existing system. Because they are part and parcel of the status quo, they will defend it. Not only will they defend it, they will energetically advance more of the same failed ideas that did not work as a solution. You would think that intelligent people like we have in the Legislature would be able to see that doing more of the same, when the first efforts were ineffective, is analogous to beating a dead horse, wouldn't you?
Guatemala RPCV Keith Goodenough says traditional thinkers dominate the entire legislative and political processes, and they are a group that has a definite and identifiable way of looking at the world
OPINION: Traditional thinkers work their magic
Feb 20, 2006 - Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
Caption: Cheyenne became the capital of the Wyoming Territory in 1869 and continued to serve as the capital when Wyoming entered the Union in 1890. The State Capitol, constructed of sandstone in a neoclassical style, was begun in 1887. Perhaps one of the most famous laws passed in Cheyenne was an 1869 measure granting women the right to vote, serve on juries, and hold public office.
Feb. 20--The 2006 Budget Session of the Wyoming Legislature has been convened; the traditional thinkers have begun to work their magic!
Suppose we engage in a wee bit of fantasy political pondering and pretend that we have a Legislature that is dominated by progressive thinkers instead of the existing attitude. What would result?
Before we do that, we have to fix in our minds what we have in place at this point in time. We have traditional thinkers dominating the entire legislative and political processes, and they are a group that has a definite and identifiable way of looking at the world.
Traditional thinkers do not question the status quo; they defend the status quo at all costs. It does not matter that there might be overwhelming evidence pointing to massive failures within the existing system. Because they are part and parcel of the status quo, they will defend it.
Not only will they defend it, they will energetically advance more of the same failed ideas that did not work as a solution. You would think that intelligent people like we have in the Legislature would be able to see that doing more of the same, when the first efforts were ineffective, is analogous to beating a dead horse, wouldn't you?
Another component of that same attitude is an inability to admit they made a bad decision. Traditional thinkers will go to the grave defending a failed policy before they admit they made a mistake, or took a wrong political turn. Do you recall the answer then candidate George Bush gave when asked what mistakes he had made during his first term of office? I seem to recall he couldn't come up with any examples of his mistakes.
This is not to say they are lying, heavens no! The defenders of the status quo really do believe they do not make mistakes. If they have a political stance lodged in their mind as the righteous path to follow, then it must be right, otherwise they wouldn't be thinking it. That is in their political DNA.
And so suppose we had a batch of progressive Republicans and Democrats elected to serve in the Wyoming Legislature. Would the situation change, and if so, how? I say it would, and here is how it would be better.
A progressive group would be able to take an objective view of the status quo, and have the ability to both identify the social flaws within the purview of governmental action and the backbone to do something about them. Take the issue of incarceration for example.
If only we had a progressively dominated Legislature we would be able to take a serious look at why we have such explosive growth in the number of prisoners in our jails and prisons. Are there really that many more evil citizens than in the past?
The state builds new pens and expands the existing facilities one after the other. The counties build large new jails, and within 10 years they have to add new wings to handle the increased numbers of offenders.
According to one report Wyoming leads the nation in the percentage of incarcerated youth. Keeping in mind that the vast majority of all offenders are non-violent, at least when they first go into the system, wouldn't it be worthwhile to take a serious look at doing something different? The traditional thinkers, by their actions, say that there is not any other way. That is false, but of course they will never admit that.
A progressive bunch of Legislators would be willing to take drastic action to protect our constitutional rights that are being flushed down the toilet on a continual basis. While the legislature, along with the local governments, occasionally issue vague murmurs of concern about the increasing power of the state over the individual; we continue to slide down the slippery slope towards fascism.
Progressive thinkers would be able to take a serious look at why the current trend towards micro management within the K-12 education system is short sighted and self-defeating. They would be able to look at why existing governmental bureaucracies, based on the military one-voice models, are so inefficient. They would be able to come up with ideas to reform the health care system that would be both better and cheaper.
We have had politically progressive eras in Wyoming before. The most recent was in the late 1960's and continuing throughout the 1970's. During that time the Legislature passed progressive laws relating to environmental protection and individual liberties. They abolished the laws that criminalized sexual activities between consenting adults. They saw the shortcomings of the status quo and legalized marriage between differing races.
Those were the days! There were elected officials doing the right thing by the citizens, and darn the consequences. Let's all fantasize about a return to those days, and then see if we can make it happen once again.
Keith Goodenough of Casper has served in both the Wyoming House and Senate. He is a forester/ woodcutter and served in the U.S. Peace Corps. You can contact via e-mail at columnist_goodenough@wyomingnews.com.
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Story Source: Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Guatemala; Legislature; Traditional Thinkers
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