Standing Tall for Reality

By Michael Patrick Murphy

When it comes to politics, most people fall into one of three categories--sheep, lemmings and ostriches. Being more informed and active can change our world.

Democracy in a Republic is supposed to be different. 'We the People," are supposed to be in charge.

While we have taken a back seat, our so-called leaders have led us down a path that I think few would have wanted to go down. As a result, we have a huge debt. We are at war. We have politicians that do more for lobbyists and special interests than they do for us. Lobbyists actually run party caucuses. We have roads, bridges and other infrastructure that need repairs and improvements. Meanwhile government instead leans towards re-development and imminent domain, higher taxes and greater debt.

Builders and developers have a goal to make money by seeing how much cement they can put on a square inch of land. If they can get the public to pay for it through their governments, thereby decreasing their own expenses, all the better! Your government has been an agent of these folks and other special interests for far too long.

In a few years, when cheap construction falls apart, these developers and builders get another contract to rebuild, redevelop, often at the taxpayers' expense.

These are the facts. What are you going to do about it? If not for yourself, what about your children? Can you "Stand Tall?" Join me in my quest for more responsible state government.