Lawmaking in Utah is a big industry, as evidenced by the many lobbyists lurking in the halls waiting to corner their targeted legislator. There is no level playing field for the average citizen, since legislators can leave office and be hired the next day as a lobbyist by the same group they regulated while in office. In the meantime, citizens are still playing by the rules they learned about democracy in high school.

Our state lawmaking system is out of control and being seen, nationwide, as one that has fewer safeguards to assure the public's interest is carried out.

We have seen a plethora of schemes to reform government, including campaign limits, public financing, term limits, a two-year ban on lobbying after leaving office and ethics reform. All ignored.

We should call upon the best in our leaders to do the "right thing," to give us a government that is open and works for the common good. Wouldn't it be something if we could once again have our children look up to their elected leaders as people to emulate?

Lawmakers should not ask for blanket trust; they should first earn it and keep their word to the voters. If they don't, then we as citizens have to carry out the responsibilities our forefathers expected us to do.

It seems our best hope for returning government to the people is for each legislator to reactivate the moral compass that was programmed in them at an early age by their parents and teachers.

I'm putting my money on the goodness in all of them.

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Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net