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Show 5 OPINION www.dailyutahchronicle.com Tuesday January 17, 2012 Legislators should live among constituents 11 11‘)S oil r4/7,..orZ St:0W u N P 69A-TAN WAX, T% -rttis VAR- NvAii. 1JIVPJ4 StaffWriter s it stands, Utah legislators must live in the district they are to represent for "six consecutive months immediately prior to" the deadline for filing for elected office. House Joint Resolution io proposes to amend Utah's constitution to allow legislators to represent districts in which they do not live. Rep. John Dougall, R-American Fork, said he represented it not because he believes the current law needs to change, but "to begin to have a dialogue about the law and to put the choice in the hands of voters." In fact, Dougall conceded that even if the constitution were amended, Utahns would likely choose representatives from their districts anyway. Dougall's proposed amendment poses several problems for the efficacy and efficiency of Utah's legislature. Repealing the constitutional requirement admits a flaw similar to that which gerrymandered districts admit: it becomes increasingly likely that legislators will not share experiences and interests with their constituents. Consequently, they will have trouble effecting their constituents' desired legislative goals. In fact, political scientist Niccolo Machiavelli argued in The Prince that one of the most effective poli- A C, m 5 gem edsproierit•E *Omar pi ►t.6 piss el,c1 5. 9..foleltTes‘i So4 •500714%) ,0143 7•4 ,43 • Lit. v ( -49a,s144 WILLUS BRANHAM/The Daily Utah Chronicle cies political leaders can institute is to go to the territory they represent and live because when you are on the spot, you can see troubles getting started and take care of them right away. "When you do not live there, you hear of them only when they have grown great and there is no longer a cure." Dougall said transportation and communication technology have changed so significantly that the practical problems of political leaders living elsewhere no longer exist. "You can get from one end of the state to the other in only six hours ... so traveling five or six miles is simply not a big deal," Dougall said. Although constituents might not lose access points to their legislators, they might lose the meaningful contact with them, which makes access points worthwhile. Indeed, the value of not just residency requirements but state government in general consists in the possibility that constituents may chat with their legislator at the community recreation center, have kids that play soccer with their legislator's kids or see their legislator at the school play, field trip or PTA meeting. If the law was changed, legislators would have little rapport with their constituents. Casework and constituent assistance, through which legislators help individual constituents resolve personal problems related to policy issues, have been an integral part of state government for centuries. With this amendment, they would wither away, as they require personal relationships. Edmund Burke, an Irish Parliament member in the 1770s and the philosophical father of conservatism, made the case against Keep the spirit of philanthropy all year, not just for the holidays H olidays often bring out a spirit of charity and generosity. Whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas or Martin Luther King Jr. Day, holidays like these inspire a sense of philanthropy. Appreciation for what one has, renewed feelings of altruism and a simple desire to make the world a little better spur waves of volunteerism. From late November until mid January, philanthropic organizations are overwhelmed with individuals who want to contribute their time. Unfortunately, after this span ends, these waves quickly pass and philanthropies struggle as the supply of volunteers diminishes while the level of need remains constant. King once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" The boom of selflessness seems to be an attempt to answer this question. As wonderful as this spring of goodwill is, it also asks the question: Why doesn't this higher level of volunteerism last year-round? Surely the motives behind these actions are constant, and the opportunities available for those who want to help are endless. Every day the organizations that deal with the unmet needs of communities require volunteers, organizers and donations to help meet their goals. Salt Lake City has the third highest rate of volunteers among large cities in the United States, ac- SALT t.A KS- (.011 PK-mm.1 MICHAEL UKKESTAD StaffWriter "The general motifs of his [MLK J speeches such as human solidarity and compassion are universal and should constantly be at the forefront of our collective consciousness." cording to volunteeringinamerica.gov. In 2010, 243,000 volunteers provided 44 million hours of service. But even with this seemingly large contribution, there is a need for more assistance. Salt Lake City is filled with organizations such as America Reads, the Rescue Mission of Salt letters@ chronicle.utalstedu Lake and the International Rescue Committee, that need more people to help out. On campus, the Bennion Community Service Center works with other community organizations to provide service opportunities in fields such as education, environmentalism and social justice. Whether an individual is looking to help daily, weekly or just during Spring Break, the Bennion Center can make use of the skills of any who wish to contribute. "We are always looking for responsible people who can commit to service," said Bennion Center volunteer Miguel Ruiz. In an era when cynicism and mutual distrust taint most aspects of our culture and financial inequality emphasizes the need for help, there is a special importance that should be attached to community service. It is not enough to acknowledge the innate feelings of compassion and altruism that all members of our species possess, we must also act upon them to improve the lives of others. Those who share King's ideals shouldn't simply remember his message during the month of his birth, only to quickly forget it. The general motifs of his speeches such as human solidarity and compassion are universal and should constantly be at the forefront of our collective consciousness. letters@chronicle.utah.edu Dougall's bill best in his "Speech to the Electors of Bristol" saying, "It ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents." Legislation consists in reason, Burke continued, "and what sort of reason is it ... where those who form the conclusions are perhaps three hundred miles distant from those who hear the arguments?" letters@ chronicle.utah.edu Online Comments Reluctant profs miss the benefits of Canvas (Chloe Nguyen, Jan. 10, 2012) Opinion Joe 1.11.12@ 7:39 p.m. It's not that people don't want to change, it's that they don't want to go from bad to worse. Why not ask some of the Computer Science professors why they would rather use DOS based systems than Canvas? Ryan on 1.16.12 @ 3:17 a.m. No offense, but DOS would be a horrible experience for the end user. Why do you think that most people use graphic displays rather than text? • CONNECT :• to The Chronicle 0 dailyutahchronicle.com .••• •• ° • • ••. |