Think carefully before you vote
Soon we will be standing at the voting polls, selecting the candidates of our choice. The past few weeks, like Diogenes, we have been carrying our lanterns and searching for an honest man or woman to elect.
The primary races are often ignored but this is the vote that will eliminate candidates. A stressful time, as many very good candidates will be defeated.
Candidates are rare that will lessen the burden of laws, taxes and restrictions the citizens confront daily. The crushing burden on the people from the federal government creates an environment of complete frustration. Much too often, our tax dollars are spent foolishly.
Do we need more laws? Laws and regulations that stymie and strip initiative and the rights of the citizen? Over time, the arrogance and authority assumed by federal government agents and politicians are now coming to fruition. With a constant barrage of new laws, any initiative is being thwarted at all levels. Our government and agencies are overstaffed with elected and appointed lawyers. Government lawyers have time and the ability to manipulate and write laws that will continue to destroy the freedom of the people.
Western states such as Montana with sparse population usually meet every two years for the legislative session, and every session an estimated 2,500 new laws are sent to the floor for vote. Of these, about one-third will probably become new laws. Are so many new laws necessary? Imagine the amount of bills annually by large states and the federal government submitted for action.
Every federal and state office and government agency is staffed with an overabundance of lawyers. The extreme excess of lawyers on our state and federal payroll is shocking, to the disproportion to other professions and skilled citizens. A variety of thought and philosophy from different experiences is necessary to restrain the government.
For example, the U.S. Senate has 53 Democrats and 42 of that number are lawyers. The process for more laws is easy to follow. Recently, an article asked this important question concerning the proliferation of lawyers in the government, “Have the lawyers become a third party?”
Too much power becomes obsessive. Our government is being managed and mismanaged by power-grabbing lifelong politicians. A prime example is Sen. Harry Reid, another lawyer in politics. Term limits are a necessity for all elected officials, including the Supreme Court and other judicial offices. The protection of rights for the citizen, not government expansion, might then be realized.
Vote well and thoughtfully as you look beyond name recognition to the character of the candidate. Support candidates who realize the loyalty owed the taxpayers working to support our society and the government.
Gunn is a resident of Somers.