We are pleased to announce former Congressman and UP alum Larry LaRocco as the featured speaker for The Mazzocco Lecture on Distributive Justice on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 5:00 pm om Brian Doyle Auditorium in Dundon Berchtold Hall. LaRocco was the U.S. Representative for Idaho’s First District (D) from 1991-95 and will present: “Do Right, Risk Consequences: Perspective on politics and life during an era of increased threats to democracy.”
As political conflicts lead to widening gaps in our society and the US and global economies create wealth for some and instability for others, a deadlocked Congress leads to greater disparities in our society. Within days of being sworn in as a U.S. Representative, LaRocco faced a vote on war that threatened his re-election. As a deficit hawk in Congress, LaRocco had to decide how to deal with the limited options to balance the federal budget. He chose a path that achieved national goals but opened him up to unfounded attacks at a time his party’s president was unpopular.
How do threats to democracy occur and what can we as individual Americans do to right the ship of state?
In his lecture, LaRocco will discuss the challenges of representing constituents, adhering to the Constitution, and serving multiple masters while upholding ethical/moral norms. In a divided country LaRocco looks at ways to put public service above blind obedience to ideology. With a seemingly perpetually divided Congress, elected officials must attempt to rise above conspiracy theories, misinformation, multiple channels of money, and the ever-present role of influencers.
Join us for and experience a unique perspective on civic engagement and how elected representatives can drift from their initial reasons for public service into an environment dominated by political survival.
Contact Anne Santiago (santiago@up.edu) for any questions.