For the week of January 2 - 8, 2002

Stop the train wreck

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When it upheld a term limits law last month, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled that Idahoans will get the government they want. The court upheld the law that will turn state and local elected officials out of office—even if voters don’t. The law was an initiative approved by voters in 1994.

Unless the Idaho Legislature musters the gumption to kill or modify the law, state and local governments will soon become infected with a new variety of Alzheimer’s disease that will eradicate institutional memories.

Citizens will see public policy begin to lurch from side to side as cadres of untrained and inexperienced newcomers, advised by other similarly untrained and inexperienced newcomers, begin to govern.

Then, just as their leadership skills mature and their productivity soars, the newcomers will be forced out, too.

It’s tempting to sit back and watch this voter-approved train wreck happen.

Just for starters, 44 of 88 county commissioners will be ejected from office along with 30 of 44 county sheriffs and 29 of 44 clerks. Good local government, law enforcement and official records could go bad nearly overnight.

An old saw says people get the government they deserve, but they don’t deserve this.

Legislators will have to risk their own political necks to prevent this train wreck, but they should repeal the law.

Term limits for elected state and local leaders already exist—at the ballot box.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.