By Ted Sares

By By Ted Sares

A person whom I respect for her tenacity, due diligence, and willingness to run for public office, recently announced she would be a candidate for state representative in order to ensure that the Republican Party is duly represented. Thats just swell, but being a candidate who just might blindly follow the party line doesnt do much for me. I realize she may have meant that she believes in Republican values and therefore, that is why she is running. But if so, just what are those values? I knew what they were under Ronald Reagan (conservative on fiscal issues, a strong defense, being pro-business and in favor of individual liberty) and I liked them back then, but if anyone thinks the so-called Republican values of the Reagan days parallel those of today, I submit you are mistaken. If anything, the traditional "values" of both parties have somehow intersected so that neither party seems to really have a distinguishable set of its own. Yes, there is still shrill radical liberalism and noxious conservative extremism, but there are positive signs that these elements are diminishing. Still, if I knew they had half a chance, I'd consider voting Libertarian because Libertarians do have some very succinct values that seem to resonate with my own. Look, I want my candidates to represent what the will of the people is, not what the will of a particular political party dictates whether that party be Republican, Democrat or Libertarian. I dont favor trickle down; I want trickle up. Dont tell me what is right; Ill tell you and if enough others do the same, listen to us and act on what we tell you. I have seen what blindly following party lines has done to this country over the past seven plus years and I for one have been appalled by it. I also have been appalled by an administration that has gone into hiding at a time when this great country of ours is badly in need of leadership lame duck or otherwise.The Republican platform under Senator John McCains leadership now suggests that staying in Iraq for several more years is necessary. I disagree. But neither do I agree with Democrat Congresswoman Shea-Porter who would pull out tomorrow if given half a chance. I want a strategic and honorable withdrawal sooner than later. Where is our local candidate on this? Many Republicans want to tap Alaskan oil deposits, drill off shore, and institute nuclear power in addition to pursuing other energy alternatives. I manifestly agree. Senator Obama says he advocates market-based alternatives over government planning and that he is a free-market person who is willing to put aside his own philosophical beliefs in order to do what is best for the country from an economic perspective. I truly like the sound of that, but the proof is always in the pudding. McCain, however, readily admits that economics is not his forte. That scares the heck out of me.Senator McCain seems to have no problem embracing President Bush. That scares the heck out of me even more so.On a local level, I advocate local control and the preservation of individual rights. Gun control laws, anti-smoking laws, seat belt laws, regulations about food with trans fat, and other such absurdities are not things I like. I also dont much care for state officials telling me what I can and cannot do, nor do I think there is any need for county government. Where are you on this, Ms. Candidate? How do you feel about close control?Now, I dont mean to be picking on this particular candidate, but since she has stated where she is coming from; namely, to be a good Republican, I want to know more. I want to know who will represent me as an independent; that is, one who does not mindlessly vote according to the dictates of the county Republicans, the state Republican Party, and the national Republican Party. Of course, the idea of following the lead of Democrats Carol Shea-Porter and Raymond Buckley is equally wanting.That said, if a candidate says he or she will not vote in a manner that reflects differences in various issues, there simply is no way that person can represent me. No party or party leader has ever been smart enough to have all the right answers. There has to be some agreement on at least some of the issues. And independents vote issues, not parties. Independents vote their conscience and not what someone else tells them to do. Independents cross over the ballot rather than vote straight down the ticket. Hell, independents are not robots; they tend to think for themselves before they vote. Candidate Karen Umberger does not sound like she wants to represent independent thinkers. Candidates Tom Buco and Ed Butler, where are you on this? Are you running against Republicans in order to be good Democrats? Do you follow the party line or will you represent the will of the people as you best sense what that will is? Are you willing to risk departing from party lines to do the right thing? What say ye? Ted Sares welcomes feedback and can be reached at tedsares@roadrunner.com.