The Value Of A Vision
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Having a statewide conversation about where we should go and what we should become is a great thing. Having that conversation in the context of a political campaign is the purpose that a political campaign should be held. It is this purpose that we should salute Rory Reid for his 32 page vision paper of what he believes should be done, if he were to be elected Governor.
The “Virtual Crossroads” concept paper is getting attention -- as it should. In doing so it is setting the stage for a public exchange that we hope involves not only other candidates for Governor, but also the public. We are far better to have conversations about what candidates think they’d like to do – before they get elected…than we are to have $500,000 thousand tax studies after they are in office.
Presenting solid ideas about the values they would bring to government office as well as their perspective on the type of government they envision as appropriate needs to be the norm for the 2010 election and is becoming more a trend as additional candidates adopt the approach. I’m not certain that this approach to how to run a campaign is a generational thing, as Geoff Schumache of the Las Vegas Review Journal recently contemplated, but we are seeing candidates like Elizabeth Halseth, seeking election for Assembly District 13 documenting her vision for Nevada’s future as well.
Today’s communication technology offers candidates a dynamic new array of tools for reaching out to voters. Doing so with substance and engaging in thoughtful interchange – as candidates – will hopefully translate to the same type of willingness to be interactive if elected. Perhaps this more open give and take will help us move past the legislative methods of the past where a select few come together behind closed doors and determine their “vision” for Nevada and then move that spending and taxation agenda through the legislative process with no public input considered and opportunity barely provided (except in the form of meaningless Committee of the Whole sessions).
The champions of “say nothing” campaigns; with limited, pre-selected candidate fields are the same supporters of closed-door legislative meetings involving hand-picked stakeholders to establish the pre-determined outcomes we saw in the 2009 Legislative process. It’s probably a great way to operate if you’re the one in control…it’s far from ideal if you’re part of the citizenry who gets to be governed in such a manner.
Having a statewide conversation about where we should go and what we should become is a great thing. Having that conversation in the context of a political campaign is the purpose that a political campaign should be held. It is this purpose that we should salute Rory Reid for his 32 page vision paper of what he believes should be done, if he were to be elected Governor.
The “Virtual Crossroads” concept paper is getting attention -- as it should. In doing so it is setting the stage for a public exchange that we hope involves not only other candidates for Governor, but also the public. We are far better to have conversations about what candidates think they’d like to do – before they get elected…than we are to have $500,000 thousand tax studies after they are in office.
Presenting solid ideas about the values they would bring to government office as well as their perspective on the type of government they envision as appropriate needs to be the norm for the 2010 election and is becoming more a trend as additional candidates adopt the approach. I’m not certain that this approach to how to run a campaign is a generational thing, as Geoff Schumache of the Las Vegas Review Journal recently contemplated, but we are seeing candidates like Elizabeth Halseth, seeking election for Assembly District 13 documenting her vision for Nevada’s future as well.
Today’s communication technology offers candidates a dynamic new array of tools for reaching out to voters. Doing so with substance and engaging in thoughtful interchange – as candidates – will hopefully translate to the same type of willingness to be interactive if elected. Perhaps this more open give and take will help us move past the legislative methods of the past where a select few come together behind closed doors and determine their “vision” for Nevada and then move that spending and taxation agenda through the legislative process with no public input considered and opportunity barely provided (except in the form of meaningless Committee of the Whole sessions).
The champions of “say nothing” campaigns; with limited, pre-selected candidate fields are the same supporters of closed-door legislative meetings involving hand-picked stakeholders to establish the pre-determined outcomes we saw in the 2009 Legislative process. It’s probably a great way to operate if you’re the one in control…it’s far from ideal if you’re part of the citizenry who gets to be governed in such a manner.
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