PLATFORM : Clinton Still Believes America Can Do Better Than It’s Doing

For Mississippi and Arkansas, as with many other have-not states, 1980 marked the beginning of a period when, under the so-called New Federalism of the Reagan-Bush years, we were pretty much left to fend for ourselves. Both of our states were victims of huge cutbacks in programs that had enabled us to begin to achieve a measure of parity with the rest of the country. I recall the excruciating experience of seeing funds for health services, education and child care reduced below the limits that would permit my state to progress.

Clinton understood that the only way that the people of his state were going to compete in an increasingly global economy was to see that they developed the necessary skills. He put together an educational program that required accountability and demanded results. He got both. As a consequence, less than a decade later Arkansas has reduced its school dropouts more than any other state in this part of the country and has raised its test scores more than any other state.

His successful efforts, not only in education but in health care, economic development and welfare reform, have been accompanied by responsible fiscal management and a balanced budget in every single year of his administration. Yet Arkansas remains the second-lowest state in per capita state and local taxation.

Bill Clinton still reflects an idealism that believes that this rich nation can, with the right kind of vision, do better than it has been doing lately. These qualities have been recognized by the people of his state. No individual is going to be elected five times if he or she has not proved worthy of the confidence of the people.