We must demand better leaders

Many people in many countries worldwide would do well to have better leaders in their governments. Our United States has been expected to lead, beyond our borders, on a grander scale than most other nations. To practice leadership based on values, rights and obligations written and approved at the birth of our democracy is anticipated by people around the globe.

It has been irresponsible of our electorate to have re-elected both executive and legislative leaders who have shown their interests to be self-serving through more-than-obvious examples of manipulation, bribes, schemes, cover-ups, slander, denigration, excuses, threats and fear-mongering. Truly bad behavior.

If children exhibit these traits, any loving, attentive parent would attempt to discourage them from this path toward anti-social behavior for their own good in life. Our leaders appear to practice supersized gang warfare on those who are uncooperative and less powerful.

Opinions and editorials in many respectable publications may express criticisms, frustrations and demands of our leaders, but it will take our current silent majority of independent, rational, swing voters to wake up and help make a difference in our future.

Patriotism has never belonged to one party in America. Anyone who believes so must have a personal agenda based on an issue, a belief or greed; not the common good. If "we the people" believe that we as a nation are capable of making the world a better place for those other than ourselves, we must demand such from those placed in power.

Ask the Iraqis if they are better off today than they were four years ago.

Tim C. Johnson

Oneonta

Should have seen it coming

I may have read it wrong, but the article in Wednesday’s paper sounded to me like Josh Richheimer was not the victim but an accident waiting to happen. All his friends and loved ones should have seen it coming that one day he would be shot and buried _ and we should be feeling for those poor men who had to be subjected to having to dispose of him!

Cheryl Harris

South New Berlin