To the editor:
Somewhere along the way we as a nation have changed our ideals and our morals and our sense of pride in what we as a nation stand for. I don’t recall just where, I don’t remember why, I just see a different way that ‘we the people’ address issues and values.

I remember that when I was in high school and later in college, we sought the best people we could to run for public office. We had a hard time getting the best people, because if they were worthy of public office they also were good in their chosen professions. Because of this we had a hard time getting them to run for office because of the financial hit they would take. That has all changed now! In order to attract higher caliber people to represent our cities our communities, and our nation, we sweetened the pot for our elected officials. So much so that to our dismay we have also attracted a lot of exactly who we do not need in any government. We, like the sugar left on the counter top attracts ants, have attracted the liars, the cheats and the thieves.

Now I am not saying that all who are elected fit this description, but what I am saying is, a lot more than we can afford have been elected. Once elected these people corrupt others and build a power base that ‘we the people’ often find so entrenched that we have a lot of trouble voting them out of office before they are able to fleece our community, state or country for millions.

All over this country we see the type of corruption and graft that at one time would bring prison sentences to those who were exposed and brought to ‘justice’. Now we see it every day and we know that it isn’t right but we do nothing. In fact in a lot of cases these people are rewarded for their dishonesty over and over. We as a nation are no longer offended by indecency or crude and insensitive behavior, we just tolerate and adjust to it.

I am offended by what is happening to our society. I think we are better than what is now the norm. I think that each of us should hold our leadership to a higher standard. If we don’t, then we can’t expect any better than what we have now.

Richard L. Hurley
West Seattle