To the editor:
Today I am inspired. In a day when politics and our national zeitgeist is reeling from school shootings, partisan news, in-your-face politics and knuckle-busting divides in our political subconscious, it is hard to see the lights that shine all around us.
But today was different!
First, to local politics. I’m not particularly political and usually trust the will of the people in my leaders. I think it’s my Army background: salute and drive on. But in the last round of county debates at the library, I literally heard a candidate proclaim, “I just do what (insert name of anther council member here) tells me to do.”
And it was said proudly. And she won.
That is “machine politics” at its ugly worst. I, and I think my peers, expect our leaders to think independently, have our best interest at heart and be leaders. That’s not to say that we don’t want them to work together. We do. But at least give us the façade that you have a mind of your own.
Martha Vail salvaged my hope that we had elected leaders who could make a difference. She reached out to me on several occasions with some clever ideas.
I do respect the hard work, time and energy our councilmen and women put in. They have my respect in that department. I see firsthand how much time Gary McDaniel, for example, puts in at his City Council work. I saw it in the work the county commissioners and council members put in last summer as we old vets lobbied for a new service officer. I couldn’t sit through and digest all they have to and still have time for their families and their regular jobs.
But back to today and what is inspiring me.
I am a creature of social media. To master that communication tool is critically important today, and to discover the power of its voice to reach others with your platform as a politician is insightful and brave. I have never seen a better tool to inspire others, and to fine-tune your message to the voters. Two men have mastered it this year, and consequently I know their vision for our county.
Wayne Addison and D.J. Davis have mastered it. They both have reached me and the masses, with their insightful grasp of our current needs as a county, and they have done a terrific job in telling their stories. If you haven’t watched their videos on Facebook extolling their ideas and excitement in winning those elections, you have missed a great opportunity to inform yourself.
I caught up with both men yesterday. They have inspired me in their creative thinking and passion for making things work here in Hancock County. I am not dialed in to the local political scene, so I don’t know, for example, if they have the local Republican Party’s backing for office, but so far they are winning the message of the mind, in my humble opinion.
Now, for my disclaimer: I know Donnie Munden and Brad Burkhart. I think they are also fine men, and I would be proud to have any of the candidates as our sheriff. But I write an opinion piece, and right now Wayne Addison is the man in that race with the big ideas.
As is D.J. Davis. I don’t know his challengers that well, and my apologies to them, but the facts are that D.J. is reinventing the playing field in grass-roots campaigning. The guy is everywhere and works harder than anyone I have ever seen. And I like his ideas. I watched him break down the jail issue for me in minutes, and it’s hard to disagree with his piercing grasp of what can be done to solve our incarceration problem.
So I am inspired! I challenge us as voters to get to the debates, being organized as we speak. We have a small window, between now and May 9, to find our leaders. It is not long. But it truly will decide our future as a county. I encourage others to write the paper and support your candidates. Get involved in campaigns, go hear these folks speak. Get inspired too!
Second, let me close with this story: I’m the American Legion post commander this year. I get the calls from our service officer when there is a need in our veteran community. This week I learned of an old soldier, down on his luck, who needed help. He’s no saint — just a regular guy going through some hard times.
So I posted a little message on Facebook that I had a vet who needed some help. Within hours his rent was paid. Next his utilities. I think we bought him another year. Together.
If you are feeling low about where our country is headed, remember this story. Left or right, conservative or liberal, deep down we are Americans, and we do our best to do what we think is right.
I ask you all to put down the labels, stop calling people snowflakes and crazies. Stop being the problem. Start being the solution. Start with being charitable to your fellow man. Start looking beyond the labels and start getting inspired. Stop blindly following the machines of life, and start following the heart inside you. In the end, we will all be better for it.
Kurt Vetters
Greenfield
