May I have your attention, please?

Special to the Dail Mail

What gets your attention? Please use your imagination while reading. If the editor published an edition with the front page completely blank except for one word printed in very small type, would you read what is there?

If there was a single word, such as danger, would you read the rest of the paper?

There are many ways to try to get your attention. The size of the headline, the color of the print, symbols, and other tricks can be used. Whether you read the paper or not will depend upon whether you are affected by the words you see.

Stories can be used to make a point. Remember the story about "the boy who cried wolf." He was assigned watch to warn his village if a wolf was seen. Since the appearance of a wolf was rather rare, he became bored. To get attention he ran to the village, shouting, "Wolf, Wolf!"

Residents rushed around to defend against the wolf. Seeing none, they resumed their normal work. The boy returned to his post, but again became bored and warned the village that a wolf was coming.

He was scolded for his false report and sent back to keep watch. After a few times with this happening, he saw a wolf. Running to warn the community, they ignored him and went on with their work and were victimized by the wolf.

In our world today, we hear so many warnings of danger that we ignore, assuming we are not affected. A problem of recent years is that we have chosen to ignore certain groups of people.

Elderly people for example are written off as not relevant, not understanding the situation. Remember the phrase, "Don't trust anyone over 30!" Do remember there are many dangers.

Another story that I heard has a message within it. It is of a farmer who, nearing the end of his life, made a statement, "I have 50 years of its experience on the farm and I don't listen to 'book learning.'" Hearing his reply, someone said, "He's not had 50 years of experience, he's had one year of experience repeated 50 times."

We learn to trust our experience and sometimes miss the point others have learned.

Another story describes a life of a Greek citizen, Diogenes. He is described as carrying a lighted lantern with him at all times. Asked the purpose of the lantern, his reply was that he was looking for an honest man but had found none.

Today, I want to suggest that Diogenes would carry more than one lamp.

In our time we have people all around us who have a different view than we have. Our political world, and almost any aspect of life, is filled with different views about what is right and good.

For today, I would like to concentrate on the problems of our government and political life. I'm carrying three lanterns as I make decisions about who will lead our country. Like Diogenes, I want to find an honest person.

Remember the fine print under the heading. How many agreements between persons or companies fail when one person did not keep the agreement as the other expected?

Objecting to the difference of opinion brings the response, "you should have read the fine print." Fine print, words with several meanings, and other tricks can be used to avoid responsibility. In a proposal for government spending before our legislators, someone has slipped a phrase, or phrases, into the last pages of the bill being proposed. To provide for the needed expenses of our government, the bill must be passed quickly. The hope is that those who are voting will not see the additions and pass the bill unaware of added or omitted words.

One intent is to weaken the law and allow banks to take risks, but expect taxpayers to pay for failure. Another phrase would increase, drastically, the amount of money that one person could contribute to politicians. Some honest politicians, and there are some, have seen this trick and are trying to prevent it from being included in the bill.

The truth and the truth only, no hidden agendas, should be included in legislation.

The second lantern is for finding a person wise enough to find the best way to solve a problem. Many people trust their "one year experiences," repeated many times and approve ideas they think are correct. Some of these ideas have been proven to be disastrous.

There are wise people to whom we can turn and give us guidance. We, and our politicians, need to listen to those people who have studied and know more than the rest of us, and, hopefully, find workable solutions.

The third lantern seeks a person who is unselfish, concerned for all, especially those receiving less than their share of benefit. Our government was established on the principles of fairness, freedom and certain rights available to all and each of us. It has developed systems favoring the wealthy, the powerful, and the selfishness of each of us.

Inequality of income, opportunity, even injustice is being fostered by our prejudices, the experiences of some, traditions, and our individual values. Each group, each party is looking out for their own interest.

Sadly, as one gains power and wealth, appetites for more power and more wealth grow. We must elect those who understand the need for fairness and justice, freedom for all and wise use of our resources if our country is to be strong and live up to the principles upon which it is built.

Will you join me in my search?