Closer to our own times, there was Alan Shepard, the first American into space, who expanded our horizons. And Christa McAulliffe, who dared to be the first schoolteacher in space. As we begin the last legislative session of the 20th century, let us remember all of them and the lessons they can still teach us as we are called upon to meet new challenges of the coming century. Today, we live in a global economy, where our businesses must compete in a world marketplace and where far-away companies deliver goods and services to us in New Hampshire. Increasingly our economy is informational, not industrial.
Good jobs depend on a highly trained and educated workforce.
Today, we live in a society where most parents work, and few people live in the same community where they were raised and went to school. We must meet the challenges of these changing times and determine what kind of state we want New Hampshire to be. It is up to us to create the kind of future we want. We want a state where people have good jobs, where families are safe and healthy, and our children can inherit the natural and cultural resources that make the quality of our lives so special. And yes, we want a state where all of our children get an excellent education, regardless of where they live.