I want better leaders in government
There are no comments for this page [ Add Comment ]Saturday, May 3, 2008
By ORSON L. PASKETT
Guest commentary
I am a 53-year-old male with a college education and have been unemployed since August 2007 because of corporate downsizing caused from jobs going out of the country. Currently I have had only five interviews in all the time I've been searching. I don't believe that the government or anyone else owes me a living. My situation is alarming, but I believe that my future will be the results of my own making.
The reason I am writing is that I am so tired of hearing all of the negative things going on in our country and world. I'm tired of hearing politicians bash each other with all types of conversation -- whether it is true or false. I'm tired of dishonesty and lying. I'm tired of immorality in government, for I believe that our government was created through heavenly inspiration and is a sacred institution. I'm tired of the media only telling one side of the story: the side they want us to hear. I'm tired of daily negative talk of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm tired of people saying that our soldiers should not die for a good cause which is the cause of freedom and democracy for all people. Freedom is not free; it comes with a price, and more often than not it is the price of blood.
I grew up in a small community in Idaho with the belief that living in America gave me the ability to do and be anything that I wanted within the law. I was taught that America was the greatest country on this earth, and because of all we have our country has a debt to help those who have less. I was taught that our true cause was to help and serve others: to heal the sick, raise up the poor and defend the weak -- to help others live a better life. I learned that it was our responsibility to work hard and earn our own way.
I was taught that the greatest and most sacred institution on Earth was that of the family, for all men and women are a product of a family whether it be positive or negative. Our culture is the accumulated harvest of all our family experiences.
I was taught that all men and women are welcome to come to this land of plenty and become Americans. I learned that becoming an American meant defending and honoring the Constitution created by our forefathers. It meant defending our way of life and fighting for truth, right, freedom and justice. It meant that all must learn English and accept the American way of life. I learned that even though all were asked to speak English, it did not mean that you had to throw away your cultural identity and who you are. Some of you may ask, "Why should we go to other lands to help when we have our own problems?" My answer is this: I believe and know that there is a God who is in charge, and when we serve others good things will come back to us.
Why do you think this country is so great with such bounty and power? It is because the American people have always stood up for truth, right, justice and the freedom of all.
I am not naive. I realize that we have many problems in our country that need to be addressed. But we cannot and must not turn our back on the rest of the world. For what will it gain? Nothing!
For the past several months I have listened to the bickering between political parties and candidates. On very few occasions have I heard anything of value that will help me as an American. I am ashamed that our politicians have stooped so low in their fighting amongst one another. What kind of message does this send to the world? It is time for someone to take the better part and take on some form of integrity.
I am an American with the right to speak for what I want, so now I speak. I encourage all Americans to do the same. I have certain criteria that I look for in who I want to lead our country and represent me. These criteria apply to local leaders, as well. I know several people who I respect in politics that fit these requirements and assure you they are doing good. It is unfortunate that there seem to be few that fit my model. I would like to share my requirements with you.
* I want leaders who represent the American people and not their own agendas.
* I want leaders who are honest and truthful in all they do. Leaders who have integrity.
* I want leaders who believe in the sanctity of family and do all possible to protect it.
* I want leaders who put the importance of their own families first before anything else. These are the kind of people who will be the best leaders.
* I want leaders who live a moral life, who believe in being true to their spouse and children. If they are true to their family, they will be true to their countrymen.
* I want leaders that have a loyalty to those that they lead.
* I want leaders who uphold the law.
* I want leaders who do not seek power but seek to empower their countrymen.
* I want leaders who are willing to admit that they make mistakes. Then make it right and move on.
* I want leaders who, if they have compromised their position, will have the integrity to step down.
* I want leaders who are true statesmen, not politicians. A true statesman has respect for his colleagues and works with them for positive results for the majority. Aristotle said, "What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions."
* I want leaders who are humble, kind and generous.
* I want leaders who see the importance of religion and have a belief in God.
* I want leaders who live their religion.
* I want leaders who understand that the separation of church and state does not mean religion cannot play a role in government and decision making -- but that government cannot control religion and religion cannot control government.
* I want leaders who will never forget that this country was formed because of the need for religious freedom and will always fight to see that it remains.
* I want leaders who are God-fearing and realize they are no greater than any other man.
* I want leaders who pray for guidance and ask the same of their fellow peers.
* I want leaders who my children and grandchildren can look up to and emulate.
* I want leaders who are willing to do the hard things to defend our freedoms; leaders who are willing to go to war if needed; leaders who cry when our soldiers are lost; leaders who can go on when the going is tough.
* I do not want a perfect leader, for there are no perfect leaders. I want a leader who is seeking perfection and holds his colleagues to the same standard.
* I want leaders who listen to their constituents and act upon their needs.
* I want leaders who provide training for people to help themselves become self-sufficient, not programs that encourage unemployment and welfare.
* I want leaders who work toward bringing work back to our country rather than letting it slip away.
* I want leaders who work to increase our workers' income rather than taking it away in taxes for more government spending.
* I want leaders who will reduce the size of government.
* I want leaders who will make our country self-sufficient rather than relying on foreign oil and money.
* I want leaders who will stop catering to special-interest groups that are taking away the rights to use public lands and who want special treatment or protections because of their own immoral lifestyles.
* I want leaders who respect the earth and the stewardship we have to take care of it, but also recognize that the resources are here to be used and used wisely.
* I want leaders who love America and their countrymen more than themselves; leaders who desire to make a difference and seek not for power, fame or fortune.
I know there are good people in government. I know some of them and occasionally have contact. I commend them for their efforts to do right.
Unfortunately, they cannot fight the battle alone. My fellow countrymen, please join me in speaking out. Say what you want and believe. Don't let tainted politicians drag our country down. Get involved on a local level. Attend city and county councils. Speak out. It will make a difference. May God bless this wonderful country, and may it forever stand.
Paskett lives in Morgan.
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