The recent imbroglio between Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Senator Jim Justice highlights the problems of West Virginia. Instead of offering a forward vision, Morrisey focused on the shortcomings of his predecessor. Not since Joe Manchin denigrated fellow Democrat Bob Wise’s record for declaring “help is on the way” in 2004 has an incoming governor criticized a member of his own party. The vision offered by Morrisey was ideologically conservative and devoid of ideas for moving the state forward.

Morrisey claimed that the state was $400 million in debt, a figure that Justice decried “as crazy talk.” Unfortunately, the rhetoric did not allow for a solution that promised to move the state forward. Nothing was said about improving education, or the business climate which might enlarge the tax base. It was mostly negative and grim and if Justice is to be believed, largely fictional. One suspects Morrisey has hidden agendas, which have little to do with progress.

Unfortunately, this is nothing new for the Mountain State. Both Democratic and Republican regimes have failed to put first things first. Education has been neglected due to the disagreements between teachers’ unions, administrators, and those with particularly rigid ideological-based solutions. Whether left or right, these ideas over the years which seek to divide have proven that neither extreme works. And the proof is in the pudding. West Virginia, which once had eight electoral votes in 1956, has only four today. Although some things have improved, the state has lost population.

Perhaps it would be instructive to discard the philosophical rigidity that has blurred the true purpose of the government and also prevented better ideas from emerging. Partisanship only freezes a region, state, or county in a bygone era. Neither trying to keep society as it was years ago nor racing forward so fast that others are bewildered by too much too soon can build a consensus. That consensus should be to ensure that West Virginia has communities with schools that are of the first rank as well. As well, the divide between employer and employee is bridged not by conflict or avarice but by a commitment to a common goal. Neither pom-poms nor the hail-fellow rhetoric of Justice, nor a green-eye-shaded pessimism of a Morrisey is good enough.

West Virginia is a wonderful place to live, but it needs an economy based on the future. Parts of the north-central section of the state, between Bridgeport and Morgantown, promise to create a data and research center of great importance. Emphasis should be placed on building cities and towns that are built with the interests of all concerned. This will take concessions and understandings from all, setting aside disagreement.

It is up to the responsible citizens to demand initiatives that move people forward rather than continue to squirm in the mire. Prosperity, education and growth should be the watchwords for West Virginia. Its people deserve better than what they have gotten out of Charleston.

Acrimonious debate and finger-pointing will not suffice. If our present political parties cannot solve them perhaps the people should seek other options.