THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 8, 1995 TAG: 9505050019
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Many of us are worried about increasing feelings of alienation, isolation, powerlessness, distrust of authority, frustration, outrage and despair in our communities. We are alarmed by their manifestations in the form of voter apathy, anti-government political compaigns, substance abuse, violence in our streets, hate radio and the militia movement. We are horrified by terrorism, most recently in Oklahoma City. We are afraid of a backlash which could turn our relatively free society into a police state. We want to do something about these things.
Pope Pius VI said, ``If you want peace, work for justice.'' He might have added ``and the appearance of justice.'' I believe the perception that government has been co-opted by the ``governing class'' and the moneyed special interests is widespread and is a root cause of the above described ``mood disorder'' that afflicts our body politic, and I suggest that increasing the opportunity for meaningful participation in the political system would be a necessary and effective initial therapy.
We should demand that our federal representatives increase access to elected office by making good on their campaign promises of real campaign-financing reform. We should demand that our state legislators increase access to the ballot for both new political parties and for voters by removing the present barriers. Then we should keep up the drumbeat of demand until they have no choice but to listen and act.
Our society continuously evolves. Our governmental structures and processes must evolve with it if we are to avoid both revolution and totalitarianism.
STUART ASHMAN
Virginia Beach, April 30, 1995 by CNB