Well folks, it’s political season again and speculation about the next eleven weeks is running rampant. Political types have pulled out tired old campaign rhetoric to try to wow us, once again. One of my favorites is the old cliché about, “Family values.” I’ll tell you a little bit about what the phrase means to me.
I value my family so much that I want to be sure we live in a community and a state in which our constitutional rights are protected. I value my family so much that I want our government to have a different set of priorities. For example, last year at a COMPASS (Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho) Board Meeting, I learned that the Idaho Transportation Department does not prioritize the implementation of signalized crosswalks even at locations known to be dangerous, until someone gets killed there.
As a mother of six children, ranging in age from 23 down to six, I have a different view of “family values.” Let’s start placing a high enough value on the people of our state – including our children – that we take a proactive approach to public safety. Family values must begin with valuing our Idaho families.