Open up the system to fix government

In just eight years, our national debt has doubled. Each year, in that time, we have paid between $318 billion and $451 billion in interest on the outstanding debt. Now we are trying to straighten out an economy that has sunk into a deep recession, if not a depression. The last time I looked, there have been less than a handful of independents holding seats in Congress.

All of the presidents, and all of the leaders in Congress, during my 78 years on earth, have either a D or an R in front of their names. They have talked about the need to fix entitlement programs, to bring the budgets under control, but act in a more bipartisan way, and, in general, to govern in a way that will bring stability and security to us all. They have done little of substance to practice what they preach. Foolishly, we keep electing and re-electing the D's and the R's. They know, and we should know, that these two parties have complete control over the boards of elections. They make all of the rules, which effectively shut out independent and third party participation. The press falls right in line by only grudgingly giving sparse, in any, coverage to independents and third party candidates. Only a few high profile people with a lot of money, like Teddy Roosevelt, or Ross Perot, can make a splash in this real world of two party politics.

For the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and those that follow them, we need to change what has been "politics-as-usual". It is time for "John Q. Public" to stand up and say "We have had enough!" The only way our voices can be heard by the press and by the politicians is if we make them hear us.

It is easy to point at politicians with disdain, but we are the ones who elected them, and the Press has more often than not, praised them and endorsed them for election. A little introspection might be in order here, don't you think?

Kevin Corry

Bartlett