| Developing the next generation of public servants | | | | policy objective so that no spin is required? If we |
| takes a public commitment. Instilling in young | | | | want to succeed as a democracy young people |
| people that public service is of prime importance | | | | must learn to become statesmen and |
| is critical to the continuance of a democracy. | | | | stateswomen and do what is right for the people |
| Without their support who will be the future | | | | whether the people know it at the time or |
| taxpayers, lawmakers or public servants?Where | | | | not.How does democracy survive if young people |
| will future government staff facilitators come | | | | do not know how it works? Once young people |
| from so that future elected policy makers, | | | | are taught how a democracy works and can |
| overwhelmed by the vastness of their | | | | achieve a financial stake in it they will respond in a |
| responsibilities and armed with only limited | | | | way that is in their own self enlightened interest. |
| resources, can rely on honest and wise policy | | | | We are teaching our young people to say no to |
| options suggest by those facilitators? Do young | | | | drugs, now we need to teach them to say no to |
| people join the police force or fire department out | | | | apathy for their democratic form of |
| of a sense of the merits of public service or | | | | government.It is one thing to teach young people |
| because of the good pay and benefits? Where is | | | | the facts and rudiments of a democratic form of |
| the training ground for the next generation of | | | | government; it is quiet another thing to instruct |
| State and local government researches and | | | | them as to how to make that government |
| staff?After democracy was threatened by WW I | | | | responsive to their needs. What means and |
| and WW II the public spirit of serving the country | | | | methods should be used to educate the next |
| ran high. Voting and participation in government | | | | generation of public servants? What training and |
| was a way of life. Now, only periodically do young | | | | background will those public servants have to help |
| people take the opportunity to vote and almost | | | | address the demands put on elected |
| ignore their government.Every State Legislature, | | | | officials?Brokerage houses are providing sites on |
| State University and State Executive department | | | | the Internet for young people to experiment with |
| needs to develop institutions to engage young | | | | investing in the stock market and tracking their |
| people in their democratic form of government. | | | | own make believe portfolio. The brokerage |
| For every government internship that now exists | | | | houses are doing this to capture their interest and |
| ten more must be established. Young people need | | | | loyalty. They believe rightly that young people's |
| to have instilled in them that serving their fellow | | | | loyalty to a financial institution will pay big dividends |
| man as a public servant is a noble and challenging | | | | to their stockholders in the future.Where are the |
| career. Public schools need to motivate their | | | | equivalent sites on the Internet for young people |
| students by highlighting the achievements of public | | | | to experiment with investing their time in their |
| servants so that their students are primed to go | | | | local or State government? Do young people |
| forth and serve. Whatever the walk of life, | | | | understand how to act as a vendor to sell goods |
| everyone serves someone or some group. Why | | | | to a local or State government? What is their |
| not make serving everyone as a public servant a | | | | understanding of how the selection of a vendor |
| high ideal so that society can have the kind of | | | | will be made? Are all procurement by |
| government it wants and demands.Their is no | | | | governments thought by young people to be |
| missionary zeal among any organized group for | | | | given out based on party affiliation or past |
| Democracy as an institution. History is taught | | | | contributions to a political party?So, if you are a |
| today without a sense of democracy as an | | | | State or Local Government leader hire an intern! |
| institution. As a society do we want to end up | | | | If you are an educator figure out a way to |
| with policy "wonks" only interested in their own | | | | involve young people in the service of their |
| advancement? Will that advancement come from | | | | community and State through an expanded |
| putting the "right" spin on a bad idea or from | | | | curriculum or class focus. Do it today. |
| working hard on the details and development of a | | | | |