Legislature flawed but doesn't deserve contempt

Webb: It's quite remarkable how perfectly normal, upright, intelligent Utah citizens, respected in their communities, are magically transformed into stupid, insolent, partisan hacks and right-wing ideologues when they are elected to the Legislature.

Or so it would seem reading some of the harsh criticism leveled at the Legislature, mostly from people who could never get elected to anything themselves and who are mostly out-of-touch with reality.

The latest anti-Legislature diatribe came from Morning News columnist Don Gale on Oct. 7. His way-over-the-top harangue accused legislators of "neglect, stupidity and greed." He charged that they operate with secret deals, that lobbyists run the place and that they are biased and absolutists. He said they are cruel and heartless with a majority consisting of "ultraconservative, reactionary, head-in-the-sand quasi-Republican ideologues."

And there was a lot more.

I talked to good, honest, hard-working Utahns, who also happen to be legislators, who were genuinely hurt by Gale's sweeping rant. These are typical Utahns, chosen in free and open elections by their neighbors and community peers, who sacrifice enormously to serve. They are business people, educators, retirees, farmers, attorneys, homemakers, engineers, etc., who spend most of their time like the rest of us, working and supporting their families.

Then they go do their legislative duties and somehow become monsters.

The truth is that the vast majority of lawmakers serve with honor and distinction. Most of Gale's criticisms are both unfair and unfounded. Worse, he adds to the incivility, disrespect and harsh rhetoric that poison our political process and breed cynicism and apathy.

The Legislature is certainly not a perfect institution. Sometimes mistakes are made. To people who don't understand the process, it appears chaotic and undisciplined. At any given time a silly bill might be introduced or a silly speech might be delivered. But you judge a Legislature by its final product, what is passed by both houses and signed by the governor, not by any single occurrence along the way.

And no one should be surprised that the Legislature is political. That's the system created by the founders of our country and state.