TOUGH TALK

Previous missives have been a little frank and tough about the slothfulness of the electorate. Certainly in a democracy or even a republic, self-determination requires the citizens to

be informed before the act of voting. Freedom of the people depends upon an intelligent and vigilant electorate.

The author is not talking about faithfully watching the 6 o'clock news, or even the Sunday morning staged interview shows.

Jefferson ( the 3rd president of the United States and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence) stated:

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. . "

It would appear that the general public has no idea of what they are doing in the election booth other than shopping for the politician who promises to give them more of everything.

The public seemingly doesn't know or care where the government gets their funds, just how much are they going to get from the government. The majority believe that it is the government's job to provide money, houses, healthcare and more to the people. A recent poll of young people indicated that they though socialism may be better than capitalism. Probably they didn't have

any idea of what the words meant.

Perhaps in earlier times the electorate could have been excused for ignorance, since they depended on word of mouth, then later came newspapers and magazines, radio and television.

But now, we are a nation where the majority is at least a high school graduate and the under 40 folks are likely college graduates, so we have every right o expect that they are equipped to learn about the Constitution, Bill of Rights and every day responsibilities and duties of elected officials.

Howard Ruff wrote: "It’s almost like, this time, the presidency is some kind of TV reality show…one where a political wannabe wins his chance to run the country.

America’s ignorance is no accident. John Gatto’s classic book of ten years ago, Dumbing Us Down, details how schools have methodically weakened our kid’s mental muscles…and, today, we’re witnessing the alarming consequences. So, yes, it’s terribly sad to come to the realization that ignorance is gaining the upper hand in America."

With Love and Kindness,

THE HATMAN