TheWiseOldFart

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart In 1951, I was five years old. My family was still living in the city of my birth, Lewiston, Idaho. I enjoyed family gatherings which usually took place and my Uncle Bernard’s home. They were always large events, my maternal grandparents had 12 children. Two died very young, and my Uncle Leonard lost his life fighting to defeat fascism in WWII. However, three of my uncles survived. Those days were noisy, filled with the laughter of children and the conversations taking place among my mother’s family. The men often discussed politics. America was moving away from a wartime economy. Women who replaced men in the workplace, who left to fight the war, were returning to their homes. The thing I remember most was my grandfather’s and uncle’s distaste for politicians. Of course, I didn’t understand everything then, but I share their feelings and despise them even more today. 1960 turned out to be one of the most important years in my life. I would be attending my fresh...

I must be totally honest with you: I did not read the attached article. The title of the story made me think about what is really wrong with America’s leadership, something ignored by the mainstream media, which once again hides the truth from our nation’s people. It made me think about why I am an Independent. The government of the United States is not only dysfunctional, it is the most incompetent and corrupt in the world. Every man and woman who holds a political office, including the Supreme Court, has ignored its primary purpose: to protect and expand the quality of life for all of America’s people. If you sit on the right side of the aisle, the profits of the super-rich and major corporations are priority number one. For the men and women who sit on both sides of the aisle, reelection is their primary goal. Political parties are the problem. There is no logical reason for belonging to a political party. They do not deserve your loyalty or support. The only thing they share is the...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart America is not a pure democracy. In our system of a “Democratic Republic,” we, the people, elect women and men to represent us in Washington. Their primary responsibility is to serve the people and make efforts to address our needs and wishes. This was moderately successful from 1789 until 1981. The first steps to increase political power in America came from the right side of the aisle. In 1981, Ronald Reagan demanded absolute loyalty and party unity without dissension. This began a move farther to the right, and today those who call themselves “Republicans” in Washington are leaning towards a fascist regime and the end of democracy. Their party is first, special interests second, and the American people an afterthought at best. STOP THE STUPIDITY AND DO THE RIGHT THING What is needed to save our government in Washington: end mass corruption and restore functionality. This is simple, and we can control the situation. A large percentage of our elected officials ...