DEAR EDITOR:
Thank goodness the 2012 elections are almost here. I bet that most of us are sick to death of all the political ads and want it to be over. The bigger issue is what comes after it is over.
No matter who becomes our next president and which political party controls Congress, major changes in how we live in this world are greatly needed. What kind of leadership is provided by Washington, D.C., is vital to determining what these changes should be and how to implement them.
We hear over and over that Americans want our federal government to be reduced in both size and power. Arguments are made that our Founding Fathers never meant for the government to become so intrusive and dominant.
I do have to ask those people who believe this how they know how our early leaders would react to today's federal government. As the times change, so do viewpoints and needed actions. Governing four million people like Washington, Adams and Jefferson had to is quite a bit different from the 310 million people we have today. Do people really believe that these presidents of the past would govern today as they did in their time?
If we truly want to see change in this nation, then we need to begin with a series of education programs to try to get us to understand the problems and the possible solutions. Too many of our opinions are based on ignorance, not fact. Our leaders must take the time to work with us to develop programs that are needed.
Of course, our leaders and their political parties must change how they do business. The destructive partisanship that has come to dominate the political landscape is a major distraction from what needs to be done. We need more selfless leaders and fewer selfish ones.
This is a monumental undertaking. We are so use to doing things the same way we always have. We also lack patience. The modern world has provided us instantaneous results. We want solutions right now. But the issues we face today are not going to be settled that quickly or easily.
Communication and dialogue are essential. A series of national, state, and local meetings are required to get the process initiated. Various agendas need to be created and information shared.
Most importantly, we Americans need to become more open minded and understanding. We are all different in various ways. If we truly want to make this a better place to live, then we need to open our eyes, our ears and our hearts. Aren't we worth the effort?
Larry Dueber
Warren