To the editor:
Our national political system is a mess! This judgment is characterized by the facts that citizens are confronted with candidates they don’t know or like; nearly half of eligible citizens fail to vote; an increasing number of politicians are being charged with and convicted of crimes; corruption seems on the rise; politicians lie incessantly in campaign speeches and ads; our leaders vote themselves raises in the dark of night to avoid public exposure; campaign funding has evolved into a fiscal horror show; political party conformity seems, in many instances, a higher value than does honest, open individual conviction; candidates campaign via endless meaningless sound bites and polls; ballots cannot seem to be collected nor counted in a trusted manner; and the list goes on. We need a whole new way of selecting, voting for, and judging our leaders.
First, we, as citizens, need to get more personally involved. We need to take interest in knowing those who represent us locally, in county, state, and national office. After all, our financial well being, safety issues, health care matters, tax spending, homeland and national security needs, infrastructure integrity, military quality and strength, and basic government services are run by these very people. If we shirk our duty to know who leads us, we get dishonest, self serving, corrupt, lazy, and deceptive people filling open leader positions.
Second, we need to make our demands and expectations clearly and loudly known to our leaders. Letters, personal visits, phone calls, and petitions are among the ways such information can be transmitted. We need to attend available local representative meetings – which in many cases are poorly attended — to voice our pleasure or displeasure at politicians’ performance. If our messages are not adequately responded to, we must re-contact leaders until we get satisfactory answers.
Third, we must vote. To vote wisely, we must stay abreast of issues and candidates’ records and stances on issues. This takes energy and time; but what does it mean if we fail or refuse to expend the time and energy needed? It means that les than honorable, les skilled, and candidates with questionable positions and ethical records can get elected.
Last, we have to demand, forcefully, that the sound bite ads and ludicrous gatherings the media passes off as “debates” be replaced with honest, adequately timed, and devoid of media personality led questions and sound bite responses and replaced by lengthier speeches on issues by candidates during campaigns and by office holders during their terms of office. These messages ought be at regular intervals and have a sizable citizen live audience who can pose questions and challenges to speakers.
There are numerous other changes that others can suggest, but these would be a good start. Our present system has devolved poorly and needs prompt corrective action.
Ken Petress
Presque Isle
