The enigma of state and national representatives' ethical lapses has reminded me of an experience during the Clinton impeachment hearings in the 1990's. I came home one afternoon, to the voice of my wife authoritatively telling our four-year-old daughter, "Don't let anyone tell you that (you) cannot be morally clean." Not knowing the cause of her virtuous anxiety, I ignorantly replied, "sweetheart, she is only four."
My wife than proceeded to tell me what a congressmen from Missouri had just said on the floor of the House of Representatives. Attempting to stay the tide of impeaching the president this congressman sadly stated -- "We are trying a man for unattainable morality" -- a revealing line about his own private life. Not all men and women swim in infidelity. You can be morally clean.
Given the current events one may unquestionable agree with early American, Thomas Tredwell of New York who predicted Washington D.C. would become a place "where men are to live, without labor, upon the fruit of the labors of others; [a] political hive, where all the drones in the society are to be collected to feed on the honey of the land."
I don't broadly apply that statement to all those in the political hive. There are honest individuals in Washington D.C. who live high standards of activity privately and in public. There are men and women who seek office and serve with integrity.
There is much talk of the 2010 and 2012 election cycles. It has become imperative that we elect and sustain individuals who have wisely prepared. We need to start putting emphasis in a candidate's virtuous preparation and deemphasize shallow resumes of canned experience. We need to quit bickering over someone's previous positions, titles, and their appearance and name recognition. In the coming years we must be better in choosing statesmen over demagogues.
Aristotle observed: "What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions." We need to see more public servants live virtuous lives and talk of virtuous lives and for the good of our country, expect virtuous lives. When is the last time we saw a leader speak and teach of moral character and virtuous actions? Perhaps Sister Elaine Dalton of the General Young Women's presidency for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is available for public office. Thankfully, she is not backing down on what we need to return to.
The quintessential statesman will curtail political hero worship and won't fancy himself to be among the cameras and the political elite. He spends most of his time outside the realm of committees, commissions, and focus groups. Knowing full well his positive influence will come by increased one-on-one experiences with his constituents, out of public eye. Such political intimacy will be hard as many reporters, some staff, and random flatterers on the move seek to squash his time with ostentatious image driven activities.
Americans are hoping in the coming elections for those with vulnerable foibles and unchecked selfishness to stay clear of the political arena. Most voting Americans want to vote for men and women who have subdued weak points in character by moral courage. They want men and women who have prepared by winning private battles between right and wrong.
Several years ago I asked one of Utah's U.S. Congressmen (who at the time was a candidate), what he disliked about Washington D.C. He said without hesitation, "the pompous spirit." What is the antidote for this pompous spirit? I submit it is virtuous citizens electing virtuous leaders.
Jenkins lives in Layton.
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