SNAP #33 – A LESSON from LAMM

“Resilience and fortitude are required to preach hard choices to a profligate nation. But Governor Richard Lamm has been the dean of the school of hard choices for at least two decades.”

—Gary Hart, Former Senator and Presidential Candidate

former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm (photo speakers.com)

Shortly after arriving last Wednesday in Aspen, I received a telephone call from longtime friend, Karen Kribs. “Mary, Dick Lamm is speaking at the Thunder River Theatre on Friday night. I think we should go.”

What was surprising about this suggestion was the person making it. Karen, an astute business woman and local building contractor, is as Far Right politically as I am Left. Lamm, the former three-term Democratic Governor of Colorado. (1975-1987)  is Co-Director of the Institute for Public Policy Studies at the University of Denver and, to my mind, very liberal. Like most of my female friends, Kribs is no shrinking violet, so if she wanted to hear Lamm’s views on immigration and health issues, I was game.

She bought the tickets. I bought dinner.

On Friday evening, Governor Lamm, the author of such provocative books as  “Immigration Time Bomb: 2” (1985), “The Brave New World of Health Care” (2003), and ”Condition Critical: A New Moral Vision for Health Care” (2007), reminded a standing room-only audience that “articulation” and “the art of conversation” can still occur. He spoke of sustainability, immigration policy, end-of-life issues, and the many topics contained in his “I have a plan to destroy America” speech.

He talked and answered questions about unpleasant topics, hot button issues and critical problems. He made me uncomfortable. I squirmed in my seat. Cleared my throat.   Wished I had ordered that glass of wine at dinner. He started to move a concerned and attentive audience, primarily boomer-aged, politically left/right, to middle-ground. When is the last time that has happened? He even answered one question with, “I really don’t know very much about that.”  A politician that doesn’t know everything? Whoa. 

When we were driving home, I asked Karen, “What about his entire presentation did you not agree with?”

Her answer, “Nothing.”

My answer, “Nothing.”

Please understand, the pathway to hot issue solutions is fraught with IEDs but middle ground is the starting point. So, here’s the SNAP, which, this week, is for every elected official. Can you just stop annihilating and defaming each other and concentrate on the current events that require innovative ideas to invigorate and replenish this country? I don’t care if Barack Obama is white, black or purple. I don’t care if Mitt Romney is Muslim or Morman. If John Boehner wants to suntan and smoke, fine. If Hillary Clinton has gained weight, sprouted wrinkles and let her hair turn gray, she’s earned the right. Heck, it no longer even bothers me whether Bill Clinton’s zipper is up or down. I just want our elected officials to think and care as much about the American people as they think and care about themselves.

I caught a glimpse of that last Friday evening. Thanks, Governor Lamm.

Ten years ago, my friend, Karen Kribs shared this Eleanor Roosevelt quote with me. (Etsy.com)