To the editor: There is a well-known quote many sources say was coined by John Edward Acton in 1887. The saying goes like this: “Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.”
The original basis for Acton’s quote is from an English politician William Pitt in the late 1700’s who is credited with the quote: “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.”
So here we are several hundred years later facing a similar leadership crisis, the likes of which we have never seen. Human behavior is predictable and history certainly does repeat itself. Today, there is a serious lack of honesty and integrity in government. There is an agenda – not one agenda – but multiple agendas.
It is obvious that the people elected to represent America in Washington have completely lost sight of the fact that at the end of the day, they are public servants. If they want to be respected, then they need to demonstrate they are worthy of respect! Remember when Respect was something you had to earn – not something you demanded?
Remember when character and Integrity were something you learned from your parents? Remember when your ability to earn a living depended entirely on how much you dedicated yourself to learning a skill and how hard you were willing to work? Remember when your belief was in a Higher Power and it was God, not Government? The money and other benefits today’s politicians freely give away was not earned by them, and does not belong to them, yet they use it to curry influence, often for their own benefit.
Many of them appear to only be interested in their own self-serving ideas. Someone has convinced them that they have absolute power over our country, our society, our laws, and our lives.
Many of these people in leadership are clearly not trustworthy and are willing to sell their influence to the highest bidder.
In my opinion the role of government is (or should be) minimal:
Protect America and its borders and allies with its Military;
Provide a financial system to facilitate commerce and trade;
Support a lawful society (almost all of the laws needed are biblically based btw…);
Support a Society where Freedom of Religion and Worship are easily possible;
Provide meaningful Support resources, with a healthy dose of compassion for those among us who may need help from time to time, while not encouraging reliance on Government as a way of life.
The path we are on currently is unsustainable and will lead to ruin. The level of immorality we have – which by the way is often encouraged by the government today under the guise of equality – is just not acceptable.
The really good news is there are a lot of good folks left in this world. We need to stop being the silent majority. We can all band together and stop this train wreck!
Make your vote count – get out and vote!
Tom Lord
Alto