Pubdate: Sun, 17 Mar 2002
Source: Register-Herald, The (WV)
Copyright: 2002 The Register-Herald
Contact:  http://www.register-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1441
Author: Sen. Mark Burnette
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

THERE ARE MANY POSITIVE THINGS GOING ON IN W VA

Have you ever noticed that most news we receive is negative, especially if 
it is about government?

The media seem to focus on the negative. Most newspaper editorials about 
government are negative or critical, as are most letters to the editor.

Statements made by public officials criticizing a program or policy are 
much more likely to make news than positive statements in support of 
something. Don Henley recorded a song on this phenomenon called "Dirty 
Laundry," and there have been many movies that have touched on this as well.

The media are not totally to blame. During my tenure as a public official, 
I have been outspokenly critical of several things. It's appalling to see 
the lack of ethical standards and the selfish, self-serving nature of many 
people in government, as well as the lobbyists and special interests that 
want something from government.

I am the only member of the Senate to vote against all of the "Big Four." 
The Big Four are what I consider the four most important proposals of the 
last two years: (1) legalized slot machine gambling; (2) a state-run 
medical malpractice insurance program; (3) the sale of $4 billion in bonds 
to invest in the stock market for our pensioners, without a vote by the 
people as required by the Constitution; and (4) the discounting of the 
state's nearly $2 billion tobacco settlement for 30 cents on the dollar.

I voted against these proposals because I strongly believe they are bad for 
the people of West Virginia. My votes and comments during debate on some of 
these issues have been reported statewide.

However, what doesn't make the news are the affirmative votes. Upon 
reviewing my voting record over the past two years, more than 99 percent of 
the total votes I have cast on the floor of the Senate have been "Yes" 
votes in support of numerous worthy laws and programs, many of which were 
proposed by the governor and legislative leadership. The reason for this is 
there are many more positive things going on in West Virginia government 
than negative, and West Virginia has reason to be optimistic about its future.

During this legislative session, I was visited by three young high school 
students from my district: Brittany Bennett and Ashley Given from Richwood 
High School, and Suki Rogers from Webster County High School. They returned 
a couple of weeks later with a video they had produced depicting problems 
teen-agers face today, including drug use and lack of direction. Sadly, the 
video showed discarded needles kids use to inject themselves with drugs, 
and I was informed that drug use - injected, snorted and smoked - is quite 
prevalent.

I was deeply troubled by the message these young women brought, but I was 
also in awe of the maturity and poise they displayed. They told me they 
didn't want anything from me and didn't expect me to have the answer to the 
problem; they just wanted me to listen. What a breath of fresh air compared 
to the lobbyists who beat on us every day for things that are usually 
trivial and selfish.

I think most people would agree the best investment we can make in the 
future of this state is to invest in our children. Government must ensure 
children have proper nutrition, adequate health care and the best education 
money can buy.

Unfortunately, however, the most important necessities for children cannot 
be provided by government. These include love, discipline, guidance, a safe 
and caring home and two stable parents. Hillary Clinton wrote a book 
entitled, "It Takes a Village." The message was it takes an entire 
community - schools, churches, neighbors, family and friends - to provide a 
proper upbringing for a child. The Republicans ridiculed this book by 
saying "it takes a family." The fact is, Hillary and the Republican Party 
are both right.

I am so encouraged by bright lights such as Brittany, Ashley and Suki. I've 
often said, only half jokingly, that rather than have minimum ages to run 
for public offices, we should have maximum ages. What young people lack in 
wisdom and experience, they make up for tenfold with honesty, idealism and 
enthusiasm, and they do not have cynicism that comes with age.

Brittany, Ashley and Suki were right - I do not have the answer to the 
problems they conveyed to me, and in fact, I don't believe government can 
provide all of the answers.

But I do know that when I meet people like them, it is obvious there are 
parents, teachers and communities doing something right. And that is reason 
for optimism.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom