Resolutions Missourians should keep

Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals.

-- Dr. Albert Schweitzer

KENNETT, Mo. -- An excellent way to start the new year would be heeding the advice of Albert Schweitzer, who devoted his life to caring for some of the world's neediest, earning the respect and admiration of millions around the world. I'm not suggesting that resolutions for 2003 include promises to follow the difficult paths taken by Dr. Schweitzer, but I would hope that we assume some of the suggested responsibilities -- and become better citizens in the year ahead.

Don't misunderstand. I'm not suggesting that our state is populated with irresponsible citizens who commit foul deeds and nefarious crimes in pursuit of a "better life." Indeed, just the opposite is true: Most Missourians are hard-working citizens who in their own way demonstrate considerable responsibility, even while questioning the wisdom of their actions.

As Missourians focus on the various forms of governance that are employed to protect their lives and property and perform various levels of public service, the current outlook for the success of these challenges is, to say the least, disheartening.

We suddenly find ourselves returning to an era of increasing federal deficits that equal or supersede those recorded during severe economic recessions, returning us once again to federal deficits that boggle the mind. As worrisome as these loans from our children and their children were when they occurred, today's worries seem virtually non-existent.

Over the years we have sorrowfully learned the ramifications from ordinary citizens when their federal government is unable to balance its books and come even remotely close to careful conservation of federal revenue. If the trend continues, economists warn that such huge shortfalls will result in record-breaking deficits that would surely cripple the national economy and take years for a recovery to occur.

In fact, Uncle Sam is spending like a drunken spendthrift and, surprisingly, no one seems to have noticed.

To make matters worse, this rapidly accumulating U.S. debt is occurring at the very moment that 47 of the 50 states are now facing severe revenue shortages, forcing a serious look at the tenure of a great many programs that, over the years, have been deemed essential to the well-being of individuals and families.

Although faced with some highly disturbing reductions in a large number of services, Missourians can take some comfort, albeit cold, that they are not residing in California, where the funding shortages are totaling billions and billions of dollars. Thus far, as Gov. Bob Holden attempts to fashion a reasonable facsimile of present services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, beneath the surface Jefferson City is literally grabbing at economic straws to overcome the predicted financial losses.

Make no mistake about it, Missouri's state government has huge financial problems, facing a series of increasing revenue shortages and threatening the future of programs that range from public and higher education to aid for unemployed workers, countless health programs and a general lessening of the quality of services provided in the past.

Like prospects in Washington, the same potential dangers are facing Jefferson City, and thus far the total response from the vast majority of citizens seems to be one of complete indifference, joined by a chorus of what seems to be one of complete indifference, joined by a chorus of partisan critics who want to blame incumbent officials for the obvious lack of perspective provided by their predecessors.

As distressing as these prospects appear, the one positive note is that they provide an opportunity for citizens to become better informed how their state government works while rolling up their sleeves to become personally involved in helping solve them.

To put a light touch on the situation, vast numbers of responsible Missourians appear to be playing the role of Jimmy Stewart in the movie inevitably shown at this time of the year: "It's a Wonderful Life." Jimmy seemed not to have a clue that his savings and loan business was going down the tube, a disaster that was averted only when a visiting angel arrived on the scene to correct the earthly malaise.

Most Missourians know so little about existing state programs that if passing a test of state government were required of all voters, the number of citizens able to perform this needed component of self-government would be horribly embarrassing, even humiliating. If we are a democracy which extends to its constituents the right to choose their officials as well as pass judgment on proposed new programs, then by any measure of performance, Missourians are failing miserably in meeting their civic obligations.

Most of us have little or no knowledge of how state programs were inaugurated, what needs they were designed to address and how they are funded. Most have no hint that state budgets are trilogies, with one-third coming from basic taxes, one-third coming from the federal budget and the remaining portion coming from user fees, licenses and other sources of state income.

This single fact is essential to those who believe their sales and income taxes provide Jefferson City's total spending. But surprisingly, it is but one in an entire set of unknown facts about state government.

Isn't it time that Missourians begin to realize the complexity of a system of government that directly affects their lives and those of their family? It would be difficult to find a more vital or important New Year's resolution to make and keep than improved citizen knowledge of how Missouri government works.

Or doesn't work.

Happy New Year!

Jack Stapleton is the editor of Missouri News & Editorial Service.