Letter - Educate, not indoctrinate, your children

To the editor:

Fortunately, our forefathers had the foresight to stagger the elections and appointments of our various political leaders. Members of the House are elected every two years, but only one-third of the Senate is every two, the president every four and his cabinet appointments in-between.

The purpose of this is to not give a popular political party complete control all at once. Recent events have shown that if a party governs against popular will it can slowly be replaced, thus preventing a violent swing the other way, maintaining a moderate form of democracy. That happened last month and power is starting to swing back.

A large number of people who governed against popular will were replaced; their agenda rebuked. Further replacement, if it happens, will take at least two more years. Thus, government provided by politicians must always listen to the voice of the people. That is a luxury that few people ever had, but it has a price tag.

You must educate your children and grandchildren, not indoctrinate them. You must be a productive and intelligent citizen. You must prevent enemies – foreign, domestic and political – from seizing or siphoning away our individual liberties and you must protect the Constitution; that perfect document that some would like to alter for their own political advantage.

Those were bright and brave men who established that Constitution. Are we going to let fools and conspirators take it away? This is the time to decide. The next two years will be a tipping point – one way or another.

Bob Thompson

Pelican Rapids, MN

Tags: opinion, letter, thompson