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Show 4A Emery County Progress Cattle Dale Utah Tuesday November? ?000 Commentary CONFUSED Sadness engulfs as votes are cast By JAMES L. DAVIS am filled with great sadness today because, I dread to even say It, the political season is at an end. I miss it so. Much the same as I rniss the stomach flu, hang nails and unsightly nostril hair. No more will he able to enjoy countless hours enjoying political advertisements on the TV, or drive through the countryand admire the beauti-side ful political rosters attached to anything not in motion (and a few that are). Hut I will try to go on, as I am sure you will. Even though there is nothing quite like the iTesidential Election Season. Ve live in such a cynical world and it is so refreshing to hear our greatest and brightest step forward and speak to us from the heart about issues they truly believe in (even if they cant pronounce) and tell us of good, hard working Americans they have met along the way (even if it's only in their dreams). am inspired by their example of living the I 1 i 1 Golden Rule. Whenever my children lash out, as children will, I am quick to point to the fine example of our politicians and say, now would so and so. or so and so find so say something like that? Well, of course they wouldn't. If you ever want to do something great for this country, than neither should you." To which my children will roll their eves. Until recently I believed that rolling your eves at someone was a bad thing, which might even mean the person rolling their eyes thought you wxre up in the night. Hut, after watching the fine example of our elected, or soon to officials, I have crime to the conclusion that rolling your eyes is actually a positive thing. It is a way of saying that I not only agree with you, but so does everyone around me. With that valuable lesson learned, have begun practicing rolling my eyes at all occasions, Yes. I will miss the political season. Hut I am heartened by the fact that some day I might be president as well. Just the other day I was remendiering the kind words of my mother, who told me that if I didn't apply myself, work hard, be honest and try to make some-- j thing of mvself, than I would never amount to anything. Well, I took ull of her motherly advice and I did what a great many people have done...l ignored It completely. Despite that, I still feel I may Ik; president some day. For Instance, I am completely lacking in moral character. My views on any given subject are exactly the same as the majority in the room at the time. If you were to offer me a financial reward for agreeing with your point of view, then would not only agree but accuse you of not king huportive enough on your view s. I also have un ovoructivc Imagination, which will come In handy (Krause if I haven't experienced something firsthand, then I have the capacity to make it up I have also been told thut am not only simpleminded. but the mind do have is dirtv Ml fine, presidential qualities, far superior to the qualities mv parents foolishly tried to Iteslow 1 , j t i ' Ami eOecfiSomi By PAUL What if they held an election and nobody came? Well, we cun all stop wondering, because it's happened several weeks ago. in New Ashford, Massachusetts. And folks start wringing their hands about voter apathy, it didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things (amuse there wasn't anything to vote for. Oh, sure, candidates were on the ballot for the U.S. Senate, Congress, state senate and the state house of representatives. Only thing is: there were no opposing candidates. Thut's right, not a single competitive primury race. Not one. Poor Richard DeMver. the Town Clerk, opened the polls at (!:.'() a.m. and closed them at p.m. He spent 14 straight hours alone, sturing at the walls. In the interest of full disclosure, there are only 1S7 registered voters in New Ashford, but zero for 1S7 isnt much of a batting average. Asked why he didn't vote to avoid the shutout. DeMver responded, "Why should I? NoImkIv else did." DeMver told me he plans to vote in Novcmlior, but only out of u sense of duty," not interest." Says DeMver, "There's no competition " In Massachusetts this year the presidential race is u foregone conclusion as is Ted Kennedy's reclaiming of his U.S. Senate throne. Not a single one of Massachusetts' Id congressional districts 1 have a competitive race. legislative seats in the state are also notoriously uncompetitive, with many incumbents running completely unopposed. What's so sad is that there could have been competition in Massachusetts this year for state legislative seats like there is in California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Ohio and other states with term limits for their legisla- tures. Florida's term limits are kicking in this election. The difference is night and day. A majority of the current Florida legislature holds office without huving received a single vote on Election Day. In other words, a majority of Florida voters had no choice at all about who would represent them in the capitol. How can that be, you ask? When there is no opposition, Florida election law stipulates that the name of the unopposed candidate isnt even placed on the ballot. .And in a majority of legislative seats there was zero competition. So much for a popular man- date! Hut this year in Florida there is more competition than in the last 10 years combined. More candidates running for office, more races where every vote counts, and more voters excited to go to the polls. In fact, legislative term limits ure also creating serious challenge's for congressional and stutewide offices, as termed-ou- t legislators seek a new office und thus spread the benefit of competition even wider. Emery Countu ircss 1 i JACOB wGueire miolbodly camme VOICE OF EMERY COUNTY SINCE 1900 Administration Kevin Ashby Linda Thnyn Darla la-- Classified Patsy Stoddard Sylvia Nelson Classified 1egal Publisher Flint )IUM, .. OITire Manager Circulation e AiT.KTISIN(. Jenm iuHselm James L. Davis Editor Patsy Stoddard Start" reporter Ryan Peacock... Sports writer Betty Iluiley ... Correspondent Display I j upon me. So, let me lie the first to throw my hat Into the ring for the I IflMi.J presidential elections can't wait RhIips: Ml $!" iti I Nuharriptinn rntrrj Offira Ilmira' Mam. ( C I aOr Monday Dale. I tab taMlfleda I leadline: rlr pliorw: Publication rrnla per mpv th, S IKI $30 out of pi nim , Monday al 10 IS) 24.11, fa (41.M No: PSPS 0747 212li 14 ir 1 (HI 122 per year dclivpixl by carrier in Ciirlmn and your by mail . Fridnv M (HI a m pi 5 (HI p m at 14(1 haul I'uih jwr uiiiiv r publication a mail piopwi.i ctv net. ...! rB,tr Bale. Utah IVnndiral a m fur 1 1K1 Mil. The same bubbling up effect of term limits can be seen in other states as well. The first incumbent congressman defeated this year (there have only been California three) lost to a state legislator. But theres no bubbling up in Massachusetts. And dont blame voters there for the lackluster elections. Theyve term-limit- ed worked to reform their elections through term limits. In 1992, they petitioned the legislature for a term limits amendment to the state constitution. But while the entrenched politicians in the legislature had a constitutional duty to vote on the amendment, they simply shirked their duty and refused. The voters of Massachusetts came back two years later with a statutory ap- - , proach to term limits, but the states ; highest court ruled term limits require ; the very amendment legislative lead-- ; ers continue to block from consider-- , ation. If only Massachusetts had term limits, there would have been lots of open seat races with plenty of competitive candidates to choose from. And there would have been something else awfully essential to the democratic process: ; voters. (Jacob is the national direc-to- r of U.S. Term Limits in Washing-- ; ton, D.C.) HOME MADE The growth of adolescence By PAULA WELLNITZ A teenager is usually the opposite of the typical description. It happens to all races, sexes, and societies. It can be good or bad but one has to go through teenage." This statement is the summing up of a 15 year old. We refer to the teen years as the time of adolescence. Yet many of the experiences related to adolescence take place over a much longer span of time, or sometimes, much luter in life. Thinking about the uImwc ideas can help us understand what Dr. Mansell Iattisan, chairman of the psychiatry department at the medical College of Georgia in Augusta said about adolescence. He thinks people believe five myths of adolescence: It is an abnormal time and filled with psychological problems; Adolescents are rebellious; They are unconventional in habits and beliefs; They should be left alone; and they do not want to have anything to do with adults. Dr. Partisan calls these Fhlse Myths. He says that adolescence is really a period of growth and learning much as any other period of life. Some things that we call problems happen because in our more urban way of lire (even if we live in a rural area), young people often do not have real responsibility for activities with the family to help them feel needed and values. These need to be provided from childhood. Adolescents act in outlandish" ways sometimes. So do adults. Adolescents often learn . t ' T ; it from us. There are stresses. We all have stresses. Adolescence is a time to learn more about dealing with them creatively. The adolescent should be encouraged to grow and develop beyond where shehe is at the moment. Many adults could grow, learn and develop but they think they are beyond that so they lose out on greater life. If adults do daily use their capabilities positively, adolescents will, too! Letters to the editor should focus onpublic issues rather than private personalities or entities. All submissions must be verified prior to publication. The Crr.br' County P l lv MU (i I,, -- l.: 'y space conrfralr but potonti.il liubiky const don'yt ' V ; i ; 1 |