[LMB] OT: all-purpose open letter

[Michael R N Dolbear]

> From: Ed Burkhead <edburkhead at insightbb.com>
> Date: 04 November 2007 14:40

> I've speculated recently that, in the growing political indifference of
the
> population where the majority doesn't vote for president, we are getting
> election results with more dominance from the fringe crazies.
> 
> I wish I could shake the whole population and tell them that we NEED them
to
> pay attention, then vote and vote for the best interests of the nation,
not
> just themselves.

But (Western) Americans introduced the recall in order to ensure that those
elected to (state) office would not do that but rather vote for what the
voters thought they wanted.

Considering a Politician has been accurately defined as someone who thinks
one step ahead (a Statesman thinks two steps ahead) that seems a recipe for
disaster, especially when the people refuse to think at all if they can
help it.

Edmund Burke is famous for his 1774 address to the electors of Bristol,
England, in which he told them that it was his responsibility as a
politician to behave according to his own noble instincts: "Your
representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment, and he
betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion." 

Little Egret (who has been hearing some Brit Liberal Democrats who can't
think half a step ahead (on parking charges at hospitals)).