THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502030013
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Many of us are thrilled that the political pendulum seems finally to be swinging to the right.
That being the case, it is natural for us to drop our guards, thinking we've done our part and all will soon be well in Washington.
However, eternal vigilance being the necessary price of liberty, as Jefferson warned, it is as important as ever that we continue to closely monitor those entrusted with the reins of our government.
Already, it is quite clear why this is so necessary, as many of the so-called ``conservative'' leaders are attempting to lull us with rhetoric and mislead us with Trojan horse gimmicks (e.g., the Contract With America) that sound very appealing to many citizens. However, if these representatives were genuine conservatives, they wouldn't advocate modifying our Constitution to rectify what self-serving, immoral people have misinterpreted or misapplied.
Term limits, line-item vetoes and other radical proposals are steps in the wrong direction. Even more distressing than the thought of these changes, though, is that clearing the way to implement these and some of the other proposals may necessitate a constitutional convention, in which case our entire Constitution becomes fair game.
Let's be sure we're getting what we paid for. Let's hold these folks to their promises of showing real progress, such as reducing our national debt and getting the Fed out from the areas in which it was never meant to be. Let's not abandon our watchtowers just yet.
DENNIS PAULY
Norfolk, Jan. 16, 1995 by CNB