Government ‘by the people’ is lacking

The next big election is coming up in less than two years. It’s been a long time since we got it right, so it behooves us to really pay attention this time. I don’t believe for one minute that Obama is a person out to destroy America that the extreme right paints him to be. It’s pretty obvious to me, though, that he lacks the leadership ability or the know-how to run this country and should not be re-elected.

If Obama is re-elected, the blame can be placed squarely on the shoulders of the tea party who insist that their criteria for a presidential candidate be met 100 percent. Candidates who can think for themselves need not apply. A lot of beliefs of the far right aren’t much different from my own, but some are. That’s the essence of being American. We can have diverse opinions. This idea that everyone must think alike has been tried before and hasn’t worked.

We have a serious lack of leadership at all levels in Washington. Many have forgotten what they are there for and what they were elected to do. Perhaps a lot of it is our own fault. We just don’t pay enough attention. The idea of a government of the people, by the people and for the people doesn’t seem to exist anymore. It’s time the people bring that back. If we sit around and wait for partisan politicians to do it, it won’t happen.

Ron Flowers

Elk Grove Village