Is America too big to fail? Is it apparent from the recent primary this scenario will never happen, or we just don’t care? The voter turnout is evidence enough for me that many of us are reluctant to pay attention to the issues or candidates, and then don’t take time to vote. People think, “It’s only a primary.”

It is a shame that during a presidential election only 55 percent of the eligible people voted. Primaries are a very important procedure in the election process.

Voters are frustrated. Disappointment comes from the politicians, many of whom are lacking moral and ethical values.

One hears people say: “They say one thing and do the opposite. There is no accountability and nothing I say or do will correct anything. My one vote is meaningless. I didn’t know there was a primary next week. I don’t know anything about the candidates.”

I am a committee person obtaining signatures for candidate petitions, and I hear a wide variety of excuses. Good citizens who don’t vote elect bad officials.

Too many of us fail to take responsibility. We should all be asking, “Are you registered to vote?” If not, offer them a form. Watertown Mayor Jeff Graham does. If people are registered, hopefully, they will pay more attention to the candidates and what is on the ballots. I often tell our younger generation to unplug from music, quit texting for a few minutes and find a few news sources you are comfortable with. We all need education to better understand what is going on with our government. Then our education needs to trickle down to those who are lacking the necessary knowledge to understand the function of our governments. The major news media all too often is biased when promoting only the liberal side of the political issues. It comes down to credibility. Is the news media believable?

It’s a crying shame many of us fail to take an interest in our beloved country. Our U.S. Constitution is an incredible document. It has governed us 237 years. Yet many of us are trying to change it, implying it’s outdated, or want to supersede it with a U.N. treaty. Our government has taken control of our education. They are working on energy, control of water, and now we have federal medical control. The list goes on. We are founded on liberty and freedom, but we are losing it one piece at a time.

Charles B. Kingsley

Three Mile Bay

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