YMCA Youth & Government Joint Legislative Session
House Floor – Joint House and Senate Session
April 30, 2008
View on TVW - advance to about 23 minutes

Good evening and thank you for inviting me to join you tonight for the YMCA’s 61^st Youth Legislature.  The Y’s Youth and Government Program is an incredible forum to teach, inspire and groom the leaders of our future.

Many alumni of this program have gone on to make high marks in business, government, law, service organizations and civic accomplishment.  My hope for the youth here tonight is that your participation in this important program will be the start of something big. Make that VERY BIG. 

(Recognize Supreme Court Justice Mary Fairhurst)  

I would also like to say a special welcome to all of the wonderful parents who are here in support of their teens—your participation is immensely important. You are truly the ones behind the success of your children.

And I would like to welcome the teachers, youth leaders, counselors and advisors to the incredible youth we have in our House chambers tonight. You are to be commended for your dedication and commitment to some outstanding young Americans.

“Democracy Must Be Learned By Each Generation.”  I’m certain that all of us here are well aware that a democratic society can be as fragile or as solid as the strength, knowledge, and understanding of its citizens. 

That’s why experience is so critical.  The lessons learned in understanding the true inner meaning of democracy are a direct result of becoming involved in the process.  Some people become involved by voting, some protest, some run for office. 

Some pay taxes and simply live according to their own moral and spiritual choices.  All of these are active parts of the democratic process and reflect the will of the people in one way or another.    

We can also draw valuable insight from strong leaders of the past, and learn from the experiences they had.  As Governor of New York state (prior to his presidency), Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed the state legislature in 1931, saying:   

 “The cave man fought for existence unaided or even opposed by his fellow man, but today the humblest citizen of our State stands protected by all the power and strength of his government.  Our government is not the master but the creature of the people.  The duty of the state toward the citizens is the duty of the servant to its master.  The people have created it; the people, by common consent, permit its continual existence.” 

The levels of democratic government that exist in this country are a reflection of the commitment the people have to freedom.  The many checks and balances are safeguards that protect and enhance our way of life.   

And these democratic rights are guaranteed to all without regard to social class, race, or religion.  All who live under the umbrella of democracy are equally protected.  They also share equal responsibility for its protection.  This requires that the people keep not only an active interest, but also a solid understanding.   

But what is the aim of a system that requires our citizens to be involved to such a great degree?  The model of a free society that existed during Roosevelt’s time does not necessarily exist today in the same form. 

The great responsibility that comes with democracy is that it is a collective, dynamic system.  Laws are made not for control, but to mold to the ideal and purpose of the moment.  Thomas Jefferson once said, “The equal rights of man, and the happiness of every individual, are now acknowledged to be the only legitimate objects of government."  

People, ideas, values and ways of living change with the changing times.  The flexibility of democracy is the reason why it has remained the ideal governmental form since the time of the Romans. 

Milton Friedman, the Nobel prize-winning economist, said: “Governments never learn. Only people learn.”  I agree, and since we are a government by the people and for the people it is up to us to learn, to teach and to live by the democratic principles to which we all hold dear.

Each and every generation retains the responsibility to clearly evaluate their ideals and values so that the state can be molded into one that is most suited to their generation and their times.  A healthy democracy is an accurate reflection of the will of the people.  It could even be compared to a river—fluid, swift, and perhaps rough in places.  But with an overall course that is steady and purposeful.

Those of you here tonight are showing your commitment to a healthy democracy.  It is here in House and Senate chambers that democracy is practiced day in and day out. Your youthful voices echoing in these halls are the call of the future.  It is your understanding and dedication that will bring new opportunity for positive guidance and change. 

Mistakes will be made along the way—that is certain.  Those who founded this country understood with a clear conscience the imperfection of man. 

It took Thomas Edison 2,004 attempts to successfully invent the light bulb.  When asked by the media why he failed 2,004 times, he said, and I paraphrase, that he did not fail, because each attempt was a learning experience.  So the key to success lies in acknowledging that change is inevitable and experience is necessary.   

“Democracy must be learned by each generation.”  And each generation must determine how they use democracy not to put shackles on the freedom of their fellow human beings, but to respond to the ever-changing social, political and technological environment we live in. 

A classic debate has been over the second amendment to the Constitution, the “right to bear arms.”  Would this amendment have been written the same way had there been grenade launchers and Uzi machine guns at the time of the Constitutional Convention?  Did they know that someday people with ill-intent would walk into homes, offices, schools and university campuses with guns blazing? I don’t know, but these types of shootings over the past 10 years have occurred not only nationally, but within the borders of Washington state!

I am not here to advocate for or against gun control. I am just pointing out that changing times generate pages of new debate over issues that reach to our very soul.

Today we continue to engage in important yet controversial debates over the use of the Internet, now the number one destination for people your age. Facebook, My Space, You Tube and the new “Blogosphere” are all favorites, of course. But what is really going on in those places is anyone’s guess. We know there are both great discussions and torrid ones, all generating influence and, for better or for worse, new ideas.

It’s the freedom of discussion that is the backbone of democracy but it is also the spark of danger.  Does a person have a constitutional right to teach bomb making, terrorist techniques or to promote porn involving children? Should there be tighter controls and restrictions on the amount of online gambling?  Should corporations be able to use any medium available to market adult messages to children about things like smoking and alcohol?

Advertising and corporate messaging is pervasive now. Pointed directly at young Americans for more than thirty years has been the marketing directed toward you through television, billboards, the Internet and magazines of products that are incredibly harmful to you.

These mixed mediums of marketing are used today to manipulate young Americans into buying and using products that are proven to be harmful to them.  The tobacco companies know it, and the alcohol companies know it.  They know what we know. 

They know that if you are fifteen years old or younger you are four times more likely than a 21 year-old to become an alcoholic.  They know, as do the drug legalization advocates that if you do not use drugs, alcohol or tobacco before you get out of your teens, you most likely never will.  So they have to get you now.

According to experts, there will be approximately 33.5 million teens in the United States by 2010. Your generation, known as Generation Y, averages $158 billion per year in disposable income. 

Seventeen percent of teenagers are “influencers” that set trends and whose opinions matter to friends and family.  Nearly four in 10 teens have a checking or savings account in their own name.

So, all told, your age group is very, very important to American and international business.

But would the constitution look the same if our forefathers knew it would be used to protect people who have a greater interest in profit than people, in cash than kids? 

The messages that influence each generation are under constant review and change. With that, each generation must consider the uniqueness of its changing environment in order to continue improving the lives and opportunities for generations to come.   We must live day to day with freedom in our hearts, for it is your lives that will be the mirror for our democratic society tomorrow.

In this great and free country you have both the power and responsibility to form your own opinions and express yourself in a way that will make America a better place, not only for yourselves but for future generations.

To make a difference, you must get involved.  What I have found in my time in the political world is that overall, the ones who stand on principle, those who act based on their own convictions over party preferences, are the ones who rise to the top.

I have enormous respect for people who act on what they believe, not what their peers or political party tell them to believe or not parroting what some radio talk show host spews out to his or her listeners.  Better government as dictated by talk show or sound bite just doesn’t work for me, nor should it for you.

Comedian Groucho Marx, one of the Marx brothers, said politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies. 

What are the right remedies? Often we don’t know – sometimes we base our decisions and initiatives on research and careful deliberation as well as instinct. Often there is no absolutely right path to follow and decisions are made on personal principles and influences acquired over a lifetime.

Many of you are going to become policy makers or leaders as adults. In these positions you will have to concoct these remedies, solve the problem and develop the answers to some complex questions.

Here are some things I look for if a person is to succeed in the political or business environment, at least from my view:

·        Does the person have their own convictions on the issues?

·        Is that person willing to listen to the point of views of others? Diversity of  viewpoints, backgrounds and philosophies are important to the state and we value all.

·        Is the person willing to break from the herd and be their own person?

·        Is the person compassionate and care about others less fortunate?

If the answer is yes to all of these questions, they have what it takes to be a great leader.

Leadership does not necessarily come from books or classroom instruction, although those can certainly sharpen your leadership skills. Most importantly, leadership should come from your common sense, your bright minds and your good hearts. 

Choosing our leadership is not often an easy decision nor is it always a clear one. We are in the midst of a presidential election and even this late into the primaries no one can yet predict with absolute certainty whether the Democratic nominee will be Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. On the Republican side it will be John McCain.  

But whether it’s Clinton or Obama who faces McCain the election season ahead will be full of promises, hurdles and surprises with no certain outcome until November – if we’re lucky. The Bush-Gore presidential contest in 2000 taught us that.  It all came down to one state, Florida, and the ballot outcome there was never resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. 

Look at the dramatic 2004 gubernatorial race between Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi, one of the closest political races ever in U.S. history. Out of 2.8 million votes cast and three recounts, the final tally came out to be a difference of just 129 votes, or 45 hundredths of one percent.  

That election also shows the importance of getting involved, and staying involved and participating in the process at all levels.  It is proof that not only every vote, but every voice counts.  If you feel strongly about a certain candidate or cause I would ask you to get involved. And don’t just tip-toe in, get involved with full force.  Whatever you will do will make a difference.
 

Modern technology from weapons to the Web and creative, potentially dangerous high-tech marketing has created new and very challenging issues for our generation and certainly yours to deal with. 

As I intimated earlier, it has brought into question whether or not the most sacred of American documents, the Constitution of the United States is still relevant in our modern society.  I believe it is, so I also believe that it will take bright minds, uncontrolled or manipulated by organizations with limited but powerful interests, to creatively protect our citizens while preserving and protecting our most cherished and unalienable rights guaranteed to us by that sacred document.

By being involved with the youth legislature you have taken a major step, not made by many, to begin a life of involvement, influence and caring.  You are to be not only congratulated, but honored for that.  If you are anticipating continuing your commitment to democracy and leadership, if you have a vision of yourself as a public official in the future – and I hope that you do – let me ask you this.

Are you capable of being a leader that maintains your independence of thought while effectively working with others?  Are you capable of being a leader who leads by listening to the people around and close to you while still defending the greater good?  Are you capable of helping the businesses that drive our economy, provide jobs and contribute a significant percentage of the revenues that supports the state’s budget, while looking out for with vigor and sincerity the poor, the weak, the disabled and the infirm? 

I believe that each and every one of you today are extremely capable of all the above, but it is the decisions you make from this day forward that will determine if you become a great community leader, a statesman or just a politician filling a seat. 

Be yourself, care for others, set goals.  Be a visionary like John F. Kennedy who challenged America to land a man on the moon within less than a decade when to most of us it seemed impossible.  Perhaps as a nation we can set that same kind of goal to find a viable and practical form of energy that will free us of our dependence on foreign oil.   Little is impossible it just takes a little time to accomplish it. 

Fortunately for you there is a lot of time ahead to do great and miraculous things.  As mentioned earlier in my remarks there are so many challenging issues and matters for you and your generation to deal with.  I, for one, am confident that you are totally capable of handling each and every one of them and much more.  I only hope that I am around to witness your success. 

Your voice counts. Your participation counts. I urge you to learn from others, keep your convictions, stand up for yourself and carry your head high. Make democracy matter.