How should I answer my granddaughter’s questions about politics and voting?
Should I tell her that politics doesn’t matter, as politicians are liars and cheats who tell you what you want to hear and service only their buddies and donors when elected?
Or tell her to take voting seriously, as it is a proven way to resolve differences without the use of a gun?
How to tell her if she doesn’t vote, she doesn’t count?
How to select a candidate who is forthright, open-minded and an attentive listener?
Is the candidate a progressive thinker, knowledgeable in the political process and committed to doing the right thing?
By voting, she hires the candidate to spend her tax money.
Does the candidate have relevant experience?
People don’t hire doctors to fix their roof, nor hire roofers to take out an appendix.
Does the candidate demonstrate empathy and consider the needs of all, or only their friends, who will have the most influence after the election is over?
Birds of a feather do flock together.
Does the candidate have a broad perspective of all the issues such as the environment, water, education and local infrastructure for life and commerce?
Or focus on hot-button issues over which they have no direct control or oversight such as opioid addiction?
Does the candidate dollarize the issues rather than address those issues that impact our lives?
Our local track record of spending public money on proxies like KPly, HarborWorks or the Clallam County Economic Development Council [now the Economic Development Corp.] has been dismal.
Bill Atkinson,
Port Angeles