Well, we don't have to vote at local precincts anymore -- we don't attend city council meetings much, Sunday family dinners are sorta out of style, and we're way too busy to read a newspaper or visit neighbors.
Aha --but computers by the hours - you betcha!
Still, with hi-tech communication resources primary for people contact, do we pay a price for not having face-to-face healthy discussions regularly - -especially at election times?
As for computers -- we love em! Inspiring us are grandchildren. If we don't get the hang of this computer age, we don't speak the same language.
Phooey, I'd like to say. Give me local neighborhood gathering places for "cussin and discussin" politics, such as the fondly remembered popular Block House Restaurant.
Instead of lively discussions today we read candidate generated Web sites and fliers. Does that tell us if they're best qualified to make informed decisions for our community?
Some Web sites/fliers cause one to wonder how someone so flawless exists.
I sincerely respect elected people who are willing to serve the public when it's often a trying and thankless job. Still, without one-on-one contact and few questions answered from candidates what do we really know?
Experienced politician's say door-to-door campaigning is best because they learn from citizens. Nothing compares to looking in someone's eyes and hearing spontaneous answers.
Judge Judy might say, "It's all in the eyes."
Amazingly, some folks vote just for a familiar name. Small wonder Washington D.C. is loaded with high seniority politicians, regardless of party.
November's general election is next. Get informed now -- don't waste your vote. Three minutes of public comment at local council meetings does not equal one informed vote.
And voting is by mail at home now. Just complete the mailed ballot and if all goes well the counting machine won't have "hiccups" while counting.
It's not uncommon to elect someone we've never seen or asked about his or her primary goals. Should we depend on campaign literature to be informed?
Leaders that excel are willing to agree to disagree with colleagues and work as team players for the best of all they serve together.
A healthy difference of opinion is an asset within group decisions as a frequent quote reminds us, "If everyone thinks alike no one is thinking very much."
Success is working as a team, identifying common ground that benefits the whole community and bringing those fundamentals together.
Division, on the other hand, is a losing game and, sadly, an active group of politically minded citizens split with some council members recently due to negative opinions about a development decision.
Unhappily, hard personal feelings seem to exist among even longtime friends.
Politics is a fickle roommate. There should be one non-debatable, irreplaceable agreement -- supporting teamwork. Citizens elected seven decision makers. All seven of those leaders must focus on today's quality of life and what our children will inherit from the consequences of wise, and, too often, not so wise leader decisions.
Voters must insist on teamwork of all seven elected officials working together for human relations and cooperation for a mutually acceptable solution. "Our team versus your team" went out with high school. If this city is to prosper, division must go and agreed common ground be established.
Difference of opinion is one thing. Lack of teamwork weakens the best of leadership, shortchanges the people served and damages a community.
Des Moines Council "ruling majority" of four seats are open. This election is critical. Division is a tool for failure. That's scary.
If a candidate could answer only two questions I'd ask:

1. "If elected and only one of your high-priority items could be accomplished what would that item be and how would you pay for it?"

2. "How would you be a team player insisting decision-makers find the middle ground for agreements to serve the people's best interest? How and what personal interests would you set aside to accomplish that goal?"
Use your vote wisely -- ask questions, listen closely, watch the eyes.
That old adage remains true, "Together we stand -- Divided we fall."
Today's Thought: "You cannot lead anyone further than you have gone."