Whatever you do Tuesday night, you will make a difference. The political caucuses start a new cycle where we have a chance to do something about the complaints we've made about our government over the last four years. Some of us will attend out of habit; some will attend because we hold fast to the belief that we can make a difference. Others will stay home and complain for another four years.
The complaints reach a new high each legislative session when we see legislators spending time on issues that have nothing to do with the concerns the average citizen has about trying to make a living. It should not be surprising since candidates run on "hot button issues," and are seldom quizzed about the leadership qualities they possess in order to understand the problems citizens face today. If voters would start asking candidates about their leadership skills, instead of single issues, then we just might set a new standard for selecting candidates.
I think everyone should attend their neighborhood caucuses, where one can begin asking candidates about their leadership qualities and the principles that guide their decision-making. If you are not inclined to risk asking questions, then just go to enjoy an evening of cheap entertainment. After all, our political system does provide lots of laughs, if you don't take it too seriously. The usual drill is to attend your party's mass meeting and listen to people tell good things about their candidate. If the candidate shows up, then you can really press for answers, but they generally filibuster the meeting and throw out canned slogans.
Over the years, I have noticed that voters are serious. They listen, read and try to make thoughtful choices in selecting our state leaders. Unfortunately, they often focus on where candidates stand on specific issues, rather than the leadership qualities that are the most important in making decisions. Issues change. Leadership should remain constant. Because of time, we depend upon the media and campaign literature, which gives us an image of the candidate in sound bites with the themes — less government, less taxes, more local control, more accountability and "Utah values" — on one side and diversity, equality and help for the downtrodden on the other. The result is we often elect party loyalists, people who are passionate about specific issues, but lack the vision necessary to lead us into the future. What we fail to realize is that good public policy, policy that promotes the general welfare, is good politics.
If you want to select candidates who have the ability to lead, then start by asking questions that bring out leadership qualities. Rather than relying on the literature blitz and the phone calls you receive about each candidate, ask the candidate or their advocates at the caucus meeting to answer two questions that may give you an idea of the candidate's ability to lead:
1. What is the most critical problem people face today in trying to meet their basic needs; what solutions do you have; and how will you go about solving the problem?
2. At the end of four years, what would you want the newspaper headlines to say about your tenure in office?
The first question will at least give you a sense of whether the candidates understand the problems citizens face and their ability to solve those problems. The second one will let you know if the candidate has the ability to have a vision, and how it relates to the future of our state.
The party caucus gives citizens the opportunity to set the tone and determine the quality of leadership we want for the next four years.
Remember, democracy is not a spectator sport, and certainly not for dummies.
A Utah native, John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He has also been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net