By Jim Sack

Most Americans distrust their government, or so a poll states.

After first blush that seems very sad, the government Lincoln described as of, for and by the people should be considered a threat to our rights.

So, three thoughts have come to mind: the validity of the poll, whether the outcome is anything new, and what are our rights?

First, I generally trust government, but believe that people are people, that there is corruption, indifference, sloth, ignorance, greed, stupidity, as well as dedication, insight, creativity, respect and understanding in each office, person and document of government. After over thirty years in government and politics, coming from a political family, and having spent the last year closely watching council all of the above appear true. People are people, so that is why we need to be ever vigilant, protective of our own interests. It is nothing new. There are those shining moments such as John Kennedy asking not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. But, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, as well as those of a Stalin. You know that. The best of people sometimes do the worst things in the name of progress. And, there are people who gum up the works when the betterment of the nation or the neighborhood depends on their insight, good will and vote. Conservatives screw up just as often as liberals, libertarians, communists, you name it. We all blunder at times, we all have moments of greatness, many of us contribute to the benefit of our communities and nation.

We have also have moments that have shamed the nation: the Spanish-America War was nothing short of a cynical land-grab that killed thousands and blemished our reputation as a nation. Our local war hero, General Henry Lawton, after whom the park is named and for whom a statue stands in Lakeside Park, was killed by an insurgent sniper in the Philippines who was incensed that the US had reneged on its promise of Philippine self-determination after ousting the Spanish. We could list injustices committed by us, for us, and on our behalf for hours. The Sioux, Comanche, Cherokee and Miami have written books on their distrust of our government.

So, it is nothing new.

And it is a good idea, a patriotic idea to have a very healthy distrust of those who govern. That is why we have political parties, factions, special interest groups, protesters; all are part of the fabric of give and take that is democracy. The term “special interest group” has become a pejorative, but one man’s special interest group is another woman’s support group. Give and take.

Now, whether the Methodology of the poll was superb is another question. I don’t know and I don’t care much. There are hundreds of polls out each day and trying to decipher them is a bit of a waste of time. And, naturally, we accept those with which we agree and discount those that point away from our close-mindedness.

Politics and government are tough business. We would hope that the balance favors protecting the weak and the halt, that our Judeo-Christian values remain foremost and that we show charity and love, but one day on Wall Street will cure you of that notion. And, perhaps that is the point the America people are making in this poll, that things are uncomfortably out of whack. I am losing control over my own life, money and power is being concentrated to our detriment. And, maybe the discomfort with the current way of things is a result of a glut of information. It was, after all, easier, when more of us were in lock-step with our “leaders” generally believing what we read in the papers, were told by the boss, or learned from union leaders. Some of us can remember when there was no TV, no cable, the few stations of radio were mostly bland, there was no internet, no bloggers, just newspapers, flyers, hand-bills.

So blame this on Gutenberg. His movable type printing press changed everything, ushering in the internet age. Before him, before his invention knowledge was tightly controlled by monarchs and the Catholic church priests. After him the genie was out of the bottle and knowledge and access to knowledge has spread to every village in the poorest parts of the world. Knowledge is power and the basis of a good debate. We have, by all accounts, a very spirited debate underway.

So, I do what my mother said, I mind my own business, that of Fort Wayne, my neighborhood, my family, my state and my country, not to mention commenting on matters of the rest of the world where I have interests. I do what my lawyer said: read the fine print, especially when dealing with government or banks. I do what the aphorism demands, caveat emptor, buyer beware. I see the government as an extension of me, you and the rest of us. I see my government as people not unlike me and you. We have flaws, we have strengths, so when I deal with government I try to be friendly, but to expect good service and to challenge what I believe to be stupidity or injustice. You, on the other hand, may see the obverse to be true. It is just the way it is.

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