Select candidates for the right reasons

To the editor:

Mr. Hiestand, again you show your lopsided view of the political world around us. I have never said that  Republicans were not to blame for some of the mess we are in today. I have always stated that there's enough blame on both sides of the aisle. 

But the blame also lies with us, the voters. Many of us vote for all the wrong reasons. We vote because he/she's a Democrat. We vote because he/she's a Republican. We vote because someone else said he was a good guy, because he's cute, because of his last name, his race, his/her gender. 

I have fallen into that category myself. Very few vote because we truly understand the issues and where our politician stands. Most politicians probably have good intentions when they "arrive." However, they soon find out that rocking the boat is not going to get it, so they get in the boat and end up voting as they are told by "the party," or lobbyists, or how it best works out for them.  

We are last on the list. Why? Because we stop paying attention when we leave the voting booth.  Gene Hackman said in the movie "Crimson Tide,"  "You can always count on the Russians to do one thing, whatever is in their best interest." We need to understand that our politicians have that same attitude.

  They are going to do what's in their best interest. If we are to break this cycle of our elected officials going to Columbus or Washington and just "getting in the boat," then we must diligently follow  and question their every move. Until we voters start removing those politicians who do not work in the best interest of their constituents, who are out of touch with Main Street, and have their own best interest at heart we will continue to get what we got. 

There is an old saying "if you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got. Mr. Hiestand, you seem like an intelligent man; remove the blinders, break yourself away from the we verses them attitude and become part of the solution.

One side note, to Southside Johnny: Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. You're right, it is the First Amendment to the Constitution that gives the lobbyists a right to be heard; but it is not the phrase "or abridging the freedom of speech" that gives them that right, it is the phrase "and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Sincerely, 

Russell Morgann

Highland County

To the editor:

Mr. Hiestand, again you show your lopsided view of the political world around us. I have never said that  Republicans were not to blame for some of the mess we are in today. I have always stated that there's enough blame on both sides of the aisle. 

But the blame also lies with us, the voters. Many of us vote for all the wrong reasons. We vote because he/she's a Democrat. We vote because he/she's a Republican. We vote because someone else said he was a good guy, because he's cute, because of his last name, his race, his/her gender. 

I have fallen into that category myself. Very few vote because we truly understand the issues and where our politician stands. Most politicians probably have good intentions when they "arrive." However, they soon find out that rocking the boat is not going to get it, so they get in the boat and end up voting as they are told by "the party," or lobbyists, or how it best works out for them.  

We are last on the list. Why? Because we stop paying attention when we leave the voting booth.  Gene Hackman said in the movie "Crimson Tide,"  "You can always count on the Russians to do one thing, whatever is in their best interest." We need to understand that our politicians have that same attitude.

  They are going to do what's in their best interest. If we are to break this cycle of our elected officials going to Columbus or Washington and just "getting in the boat," then we must diligently follow  and question their every move. Until we voters start removing those politicians who do not work in the best interest of their constituents, who are out of touch with Main Street, and have their own best interest at heart we will continue to get what we got. 

There is an old saying "if you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got. Mr. Hiestand, you seem like an intelligent man; remove the blinders, break yourself away from the we verses them attitude and become part of the solution.

One side note, to Southside Johnny: Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. You're right, it is the First Amendment to the Constitution that gives the lobbyists a right to be heard; but it is not the phrase "or abridging the freedom of speech" that gives them that right, it is the phrase "and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Sincerely, 

Russell Morgann

Highland County