Letter: Government isn’t game of winners, losers

To the editor:

Lisa Voiles has already crafted a very intelligent and very readable refutation of George Allen’s ideological criticism of David Carlson (“Trump administration not displaying American values,” April 10). However, one critical issue has not been addressed.

Mr. Allen refers to “losers” which highlights a dangerous and adolescent perspective on politics and government -– the characterization of elections and public issues as a sports contest.

This is what George Washington feared would happen with the formation of political parties. The result of an election is not the right to run roughshod over the losers and claim the prize of promoting the interests of those who voted for you.

When the election is over you are responsible for all the people in your area, including those who voted against you and those who didn’t vote at all. You are also obliged to consider a lot more information than what was fed to you by your political consultants and lobbyists.

You do not have the right to sit there with the attitude “my mind’s made up, don’t confuse me with more facts.”

The sports contest attitude has also affected our performance and image on the world stage. Too often we have acted like adolescent, testosterone cowboys punching somebody in the nose for having been dissed. Nowhere is it a simple game with winners and losers.

When we lose sight of the basic purpose and mission of our government, so well set forth in the preamble to the Constitution, and our responsibility to make that real for every person in our country, there are no winners -– we will all be losers.

Donald A. Smith

Franklin