One of the unfortunate paradigms of policy making in 2010 is the fact that lawmakers often spend an inordinate amount of time fixing the errant ways of last year’s legislative faux pas. Little time is left to devote to adequately preparing for the here and now, let alone the future.

This means that the notion of creating a noble vision for next year—or even the next generation—is but a twinkle in the eye of our public servants in Leesburg, Richmond or Washington, D.C. What cannot be seen beyond the next fiscal year just doesn’t exist.

This shortsightedness shortchanges the citizens they serve, and leaves all of us peering through clouded lenses at the future.

Now, thanks to the efforts of two local lawmakers, that “reactive not proactive” cadence has been broken in one critical area.

Standing out from the din and dust of the recently concluded General Assembly session is a remarkable effort called the Blueprint for Livable Communities by Del. Tom Rust (R-Sterling) and State Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-western Loudoun).

The bill was approved in overwhelmingly bipartisan votes in the House and Senate, and awaits the stroke of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s pen to make it law. We urge him to do so without delay, and then to help advance its core goals.

The bill outlines an idealistic vision for a 2025 Virginia in which our state’s older residents and those with disabilities are sustained and nurtured through long-term support services and programs that enhance their quality of life, while working to integrate them into the fabric of our communities.

It addresses issues ranging from transportation and mobility for seniors and the infirm, to enhancing access to services and care, to senior- and disabled-friendly land use. It’s about more than just “looking after grandma and grandpa” – it’s about ensuring that the most vulnerable citizens aren’t left out of workplace or educational opportunities, or miss out on cultural events and socialization.

A state report due June 2011 will lay out specific steps—and will likely require funding, as well as partnerships between the state and localities, public and private sectors, and providers and nonprofits – not to mention political will.

But why the need for a “baby boomers-to-blue hairs” blueprint?

First, there is the moral obligation that we must have, as a compassionate and advanced society, to ensure the safety of and care for our elderly and people with disabilities. But we must strive not just for their care, but for improving their quality of life and elevating their place in society to the center, instead of the fringes.

Second, reports indicate that the population of those 65 and older will double in Virginia in the next 20 years, creating what Rust describes as the “Age Wave” or “Silver Tsunami.” This growth will steadily increase demands for essential services across the state. Not only that, but the types of needs of this group will become more complex and diverse over time.

Third, it’s becoming more clear that the long-term solvency of such massive federal programs as Social Security and Medicare hangs in the balance and may not be available by 2025 or beyond in their current forms. Besides, such programs are only a part of the answer for a proper safety net for seniors and disabled.

Fourth, and last, it’s smart economics. Building out now for the care of our elderly and disabled fronts the costs at today’s price tags, instead of waiting to pay for them when they will be more costly. Not only that, but integrating the working-age and disabled into a workplace continuum adds their skills and talents to tomorrow’s competitive global economy – to our state and nation’s benefit.

To paraphrase the famous George Burns quote, “We think about the future a lot – because it’s where we’re going to spend the rest of our lives.” The Blueprint for Livable Communities goes beyond the thinking and puts in place a plan for action – a framework of care, responsibility and compassion. What a timely – and timeless—gift for all of us.