Over the past two weeks, both major political parties gave their vision for the country's future. What they didn't do was talk about the welfare of all our citizens.
We agree that the sustainability of any nation must include plans to ensure national security and economic stability; but what about the people who benefit from successful implementation of these plans? Where is our plan to "grow our next generation of leaders?" Or, our plan to support the healthy development of all "children, our most precious resource?" Further, where is our plan to promote "the importance of family," when family is otherwise such a popular theme right now?" For those of us who support children and their families, the silence on these issues is deafening.
I ask both candidates to take a long view when considering how best to position the country for long term economic growth and to heed the words of our nation's founders, "insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity."
There are far too many children in this country at risk for a lifetime of ill effects that result from abuse and neglect; ills that affect all of us. Research informs our vision of how we can prevent numerous social ills from occurring through healthy childhood development strategies.
Short term growth will occur when today's parents are back on the job. Long term growth will come from investing in our youngest citizens today to ensure the strength of tomorrow's workforce, as well as new leaders who will accept the privilege of public service in all branches of government. By endorsing and discussing smart investments in programs that are proven to prevent child abuse and neglect, such as home visiting, both candidates would go a long way toward demonstrating a solid grasp of what it will take to ensure this country remains the world's greatest economy and most powerful force for democracy, freedom, and social justice.