I was with friends for supper a while back when their 14-year-old son asked a question about something that was political in nature. His father said, "There are so many good things to have a conversation about tonight, why would you want to talk about that?" To my knowledge, all of us there, held somewhat the same political views so his question was not that argumentative within the group but yet it seemed to be out of bounds.
What kind of a country do we have, when those elective officials we put in office, who not only get nothing done, have poisoned the whole political process so much that ordinary people don't even want it to be a subject of conversation around the dinner table or anywhere else? I understand the father's concern, I just felt bad for the boy who just asked a question.
We have always joked about crooked politicians but it's not a joke anymore it's a reality. Crooked is a strong word, but when you as a politician have to pander to outside interests and not your constituents, then yes-you're crooked. Legislation has always been about winners and losers in the political process. After all when there are two sides to an issue and only one gets chosen somebody has to lose. But now we have risen to the ultimate level. Don't get anything done and blame the other side for it to try and make political points. As for the politicians they seem to think they are both winners for not caving in to the other. As voters we should see them for what they really are. They are both losers. But the real losers are we the people, who elected them, paid their salaries and got nothing in return.
Mike Holst
Crosslake
