Session Date: August 18, 2005
Annual Meeting Session Summary: Winning the Battle… Without Burning the Battlefield
By James Paribello
Communications Officer, Washington House Democratic Caucus
This summary is provided for information purposes only. NCSL does not endorse any views it contains.
SEATTLE - Cynicism has become the prism through which many Americans view their government, and state legislators and legislative staffers should do their best to reflect the institution's true strength. That's the consensus from a panel discussion that took place Wednesday at the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2005 Annual Meeting.
Attendees learned tools to help them combat the public’s negative perception of American politics, as well as how to deliver the message without attacking each other personally.
“This session offered some very compelling points for reinforcing the integrity of representative democracy,” said Mac Gordon, an Information Officer for the Mississippi House of Representatives. “Very often, the Legislature and its members are their very own worst enemies, and they would be much better served focusing on issues rather than attacking their counterparts or the institution.”
Panelist Rob Eissler, a state representative from Texas, stressed the importance of showing respect and communicating more effectively with both constituents and especially among their colleagues from either side of the aisle. His proclamation, “Those who throw mud lose ground” epitomized the characteristics Eissler believes all lawmakers should exemplify - among them, honesty, respect, reliability, integrity, and the ability to listen rather than talk.
Broadening the discussion to one beyond legislator-to-legislator interactions, Wendy Madsen, of Wyoming’s Legislative Service Office, discussed ways to debunk the common myths of American government and its workers, by posing the question: “If legislators and staff don’t speak up for the institution, who will?”
“We need to dispel the common misconceptions of government by showing how it works and the good these institutions can do,” said Madsen. Her presentation explored a range of ways in which to do so, from filtering out the myth versus reality in Hollywood’s portrayal of politicians, to setting the record straight on what it means to advocate for “special interests.” Madsen also addressed concerns from attending lawmakers who would like to learn how to distance themselves from the few “bad apples” out there, by stressing they are often the exception rather than the rule.
The session not only addressed the concerns of American politicians, but also those of the many international delegates in attendance. The panel heard from representatives from young democracies such as Ghana, Indonesia, and South Africa, who are struggling with solidifying a stable government - one which balances the concerns of the majority with the rights of the minority. Iwan Soelasno, an Indonesian delegate was interested in learning more about public speaking and how to establish the difference between the party and the individual, to help members of their government better relate with their citizens.
In the end, Rep. Eissler summed up the consensus of the panelists, as well as the participants, by quoting Winston Churchill, who once proclaimed, “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried.”
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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