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Letter to The Editor (Cairo Citizen): September 23, 2004
Land of Opportunity
Citizens of Cairo and Alexander County,
It is said that America is a “Land of Opportunity”.
Indeed… it is… but more often than not… we miss The Opportunities that are laid before us… or that are Available with a little Conscientious Effort and Assertiveness. This is not only True on The National Level… but also on The Local Level. Many times… it is what happens (and what we Make Happen) on The Local Level that Matters Most to us as Individuals and Members of a Dynamic and Free Society and Independent Nation. When it comes to Politics… there has probably not been a greater time for The People of This Country to Assert Themselves… and not only “demand”… but Forcefully Initiate Legislation that will Ensure Our Inalienable Rights and Freedoms and Individual Interests. We can no longer depend on “Others” to do what is Right and Just for Our Communities and Nation… We have to simply do it Ourselves… through Communication, Participation and Political Pressure. The Time for “Representative Government” is passing… simply because the Country and Our Systems are so Enormous and Complex. Granted, it still works to some extent… simply because we as Citizens “do” still have “some” Political Clout (when we can agree on something)… and because there still are some Politicians that are Loyal to The People and The Constitution and The Spirit of Liberal Democracy and Essential Freedom. Those Honorable Politicians are few and far between… which is an Unfortunate (but Not Final) Reality of Political Life in these Difficult and Challenging Times. “Business and Politics make for Poor Bedfellows”. This is a Truism that is relevant today… and has been throughout History. While it is Good for a Healthy Economy that Government Promotes and Stimulates Business (especially Small Business)… it is Not Good when Business (Read Corporate Business) effects Legislation in The Interest of a few Select Corporations… and for The Interest of The Power Elite. If anything is “Wrong” with Our Country and Politics in General at this time… this is it! Very few of us would argue this point. So… why I am bringing all of this up in a Letter to The Editor… Addressed to The Residents of Cairo and Alexander County? Because… when we separate The Wheat from The Chaff… the very same thing is True for The Citizens in this Local Geographic Area as it is for Our Nation. Corrupt Politics is a Cancer that Effects “All” America… from The Lowest Political Office to The Highest. Those who Hold Political Office have a Sworn Oath to Protect and Ensure The Rights and Freedoms and Interests of The People and Country They Serve. It is a Position of Honor and Integrity… and those who cannot Live Up to That Privilege and Responsibility should Step Down… or Be Forcefully Removed by The People. And for those Citizens who Think that the Fraternal Order will Regulate Itself… Wake Up! If YOU don’t do it through Political Action… No One Will! So… what needs to be done? No… We don’t need another Revolution. And No… We don’t need to “Round Up” The Politicians and their Cronies and Spank Them (although, a Public Spanking for Some would do them a World of Good). The System is still in fairly good shape (even though Our Constitution and Rights have and are being Eroded as I write). What we need to do is Force Legislation (within The Law of Course) that Guarantees Accountability from Our Politicians… and Gives The People The Power to Remove those who do not Sincerely try to Keep Their Campaign Promises. Also, it would be Prudent of The Citizens of this Area that Political Representative of The People cannot both Hold an Elected Office and also Own any Business that would or could be deemed in any way a “Conflict of Interest”. Some People seek Political Office (more or less) for Self-Interest… whether it be for Power, Wealth or Prestige… and not for Reasons of Honor and Service. It is both Wise and Prudent to Eliminate as many “temptations” before one is Elected as Possible… and also make it Clearly Evident that The Highest Standards will be Demanded and Enforced “after” one is Elected. Unless it is Clearly Understood that The People are In Control of Their Government and Politicians… Government and Politicians will ultimately make it Clearly Understood that They are in Control of The People (and not in The Service of...). You tell me “How it is”? Before The “Double Talk” begins… let me say up front that “Yes, I know we have a ‘Freedom of Information’ Act… and Yes, I know that Public Documents are Available to The Public (More or Less) and Yes, Every U.S. Citizen of Legal Age is Allowed to Vote. But, if we ask the Questions… 1. “Why aren’t The People Better Informed and Encouraged to Make Use of These Legal Realities?” 2. “Why aren’t better Procedures Set in Place to make Public Records More Accessible and Easier to Navigate”? 3. “Why is there not a Public Web Site that makes both Fiscal Data and Legislative Actions (planned and completed) available to The Public”? 4. “Why aren’t there Public Access Points in Our Libraries and in Our Schools” (for those who do not have a computer)? 5. “Why isn’t Government and Related Institutions and Personnel ‘Reaching Out’ to The Public more Enthusiastically in an attempt to better Inform and Encourage Participation?” 6. “Why is there not an Interactive eMail Group for The Cairo and Alexander County Citizens… where Political Officials also Respond to Feedback?” These are only a Few Questions… but Most Importantly… Why does Government Not Encourage Participation and Feedback… Rather than hide behind Secrecy and Ambiguity and Procedural Obstacles? This is Valid for All Levels of Government… and especially Important for Cairo and Alexander County. Simply “Be Open and Candid and Forthcoming”… Nothing Less. I am not going to get into the Subject of “Voting” much here… except to say that The “Absentee Ballet” has been abused by both Political Parties in probably every Election in my Lifetime and before. In The last National Election… the Crimes were Obvious (yet not pursued). But mainly, I want to say that We Need to Make it Easier for Our Young and Old… whether Serving in The Military or in College or Incapacitated (or just “away”)… to Simply Be Able to Cast Their Vote by Absentee Ballet. And of course, to ensure that “Someone Else” has not Cast Their Vote “For Them”. Finally, I would like to Emphasize that “Dissent” is The Backbone of Democracy. The “America Love it or Leave It” Mentality was Crap back in The Vietnam Era… and it is Crap Now. Blind Patriots do more damage to Democracy and Freedom than any Foreign Enemy could ever hope for. While it seems that all of The Bickering and Arguing and Dissension (and “Slamming” of Fellow Politicians) is a Sign of a Decaying System… I say it is a Sign of a System and Nation in The Process of Change… a Change that has been over 5 Decades in The Making… where The People Wake Up from Their Complacency and say “No More”! “I will not be Lied to… Used and Abused… and Exploited by a Government in Servitude to Corporate America and Corrupt Politicians”! “I will Join Hands with My Community of Brothers and Sisters… and I will Except Nothing Less from My Elected Officials than Complete Accountability and Honest Service to The People and The Spirit of Essential Freedom and Liberal Democracy”! These are Times of Great Opportunity and Inevitable Change… It is Simply Up to Us to “Seize The Day”. We will Only get from Our Elected Officials What We Expect and Demand of Them. They will either Serve The Public Good… or The Public will Serve Them. It Really Is That Simple! So… I Ask My Fellow Citizens… What do YOU Expect and Demand of Your Politicians and Appointed Officials and Civil Servants? Stand Up and Speak Out!
Lonnie J.
Burris
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