Tricia Bunderson: 'As I have followed Utah’s past and current legislative sessions, I have become concerned that lawmakers are increasingly focused on power and winning rather than on principled legislation and fair representation.'
The entrance to the Senate chamber at the Capitol building in Salt Lake City on Friday January 20, 2023.My 11-year-old recently purchased the game “Settlers of Catan” and enlisted his younger brother and a couple of friends to play. He began by arranging the board in a deliberately advantageous way. Then he took the first turn, which gave him a monopoly on the best resources.
He taught the other kids the basic rules, but didn’t feel any angst about making self-interested, mid-game adjustments. Each time they played he easily walked away as the winner. Not surprisingly, it wasn’t long before the other kids didn’t want to participate. The Utah Legislature is also playing a game, albeit a much more consequential one — the game of governance. In a representative democracy, fellow players include millions of citizens and the various branches of government. We expect certain rules and norms to be followed in order to create a fair and level playing field for everyone. We believe in checks and balances and in the ability to have our voices heard and meaningfully represented.
But, as I have followed Utah’s past and current legislative sessions, I have become concerned that lawmakers are increasingly focused on power and winning rather than on principled legislation and fair representation.
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