Full of Gratitude

I woke this morning with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. There were several reasons, but let me just name a few.

My son, in his late twenties, who recently tried to end it all for the second time in as many weeks appears to have finally hit rock bottom and last night agreed not to resist the efforts of professionals, family and friends to help him detox and try to turn things around.

As his Mother and I watched him prepare for transport to an in-patient facility, we felt true hope for the first time in 14-years. Yes, he may break our hearts once again by choosing not to make the effort. It may take many more years for him to become the productive, happy, responsible and law-abiding citizen we want him to be. But today, I am grateful for all the love, support, prayers and expressions of support we have received through this ordeal.

I’m especially grateful to my friend and Brother, Kim – an expert in this kind of thing, who took my calls, counseled with me, and got me through it all. Once again, my friend, I owe you.

I’m not sure we always give those who simply get up in the morning, go to work, act responsibly, obey the law, help their neighbors, take care of their kids, and make a small but significant and positive contribution to our society the credit they deserve. When you see up close and personal the pain, suffering and toll those who don’t do those seemingly simple things cause, you begin to see how truly special those civil people are. Today, I am grateful for all my neighbors in this community who do all those "small" things.

I was also so grateful this morning to wake and discover that Congressman Chris Cannon will be coming home soon. It is not so much because I don’t like Congressman Cannon and his politics (I don’t), or even because I think Jason Chaffetz represents my view-point any better (he doesn’t.) It is really more because I believe that Cincinnatus needs to return home to the farm after his job is done in order to make Washington DC operate better. (If you don't know who Cincinatius is, find and read the story of this man's life. It is worth the effort.)

And those who cannot do the job in one or two terms ought to step aside voluntarily while those who think they are the only ones – or one of the few who can do the job, well, they need to get a reality check.

I am generally against term limits because I think the voters ought to always have the final say, but our current system has shown that the voter is a poor regulator of incumbent longevity, and perhaps my theoretical approach has been proven false by the very practical results.

It is ironic that the Utah Senator (Hatch) who unseated his incumbent opponent more than two decades ago largely because the incumbent had been in DC too long to be in touch with his constituents has now outlasted that former incumbent. It is also paradoxical that he was seen in political ads for Cannon arrogantly instructing us all that we just don’t understand how Washington works, and that you have to be a long-term incumbent in order to get things done.

If all our representatives came home after one or two terms, the system would have to change because one of its legs had been kicked out from under it.

Of course, it is all our fault – Really! We have the kind of government we deserve. When we have less people “show up for a primary election than would show up for a poorly attended BYU Football game”(Doug Wright, The Doug Wright Show, KSL, June, 25, 2008) we have no one to blame but ourselves.

On the other hand, if you are not a member of the dominant ruling party (like me), there was nothing to vote for or against in the primary. So my gratitude is for all those who decided to bring him home, and also for all those who thought he ought to stay one more term but were unable or unwilling to get to the polls and vote. I think this time the apathetic (or perhaps just pathetic) party-line non-voters did us a great service.

Thank you all.