of the same coin? One side said "mission accomplished" and they were ridiculed and the other side said the "war on terror" is a failure. Was WWII a failure because we were unsuccessful in our efforts to capture Hitler and Mussolini?

Will we still see champions speak out about lax criminal standards and criminal-coddling proclivity when citizens are in persistent danger? I was appalled seeing Bradley County Deputy Sgt. Bill Coultry shot here in our community. We need to step up as a society and protect those who protect us. I look forward to seeing the new District Attorney Steve Bebb in action, and I hope his office sends a strong message to the criminal element in our community. The rampant rumors of meth labs being prevalent in our neighborhoods need to also be addressed. We must also invest in new technologies to help reduce crime, but we should not have to sacrifice our civil liberties in these efforts.

The disillusioned majority of voters are correct that politics have become too nasty for the average citizens. You must be cruel to be successful, or so it seems. Americans have cast their eyes on the Harold Ford Jr. versus Bob Corker US Senate race. No member of either political party can feel good about themselves after this race. My opinion is these candidates are more similar than they are different, and both have been true public servants for the citizens of this state. Yet we have allowed them to be demonized, and often unfairly.

History tells us we have always been as cruel toward one another. The history of slavery, colonization, religious persecution, concentration camps, genocides, military occupation, atrocities resulting from caste structures, physical and psychological torture, the killing of children, sexual violence, together with forms of both terrorism and counter-terrorism: all these instances portray the ugly face of humanity. We cannot afford not to notice the processes, cultures, traditions as well as social, economic and political structures toward other people or communities creating the environment that allows this bitter philosophy to flourish. Political ads

are simply the outgrowth, and have been part of the process since the Adams-Jefferson campaign.

I have no idea how the 2006 elections will turn out. I do know citizens must do their part by voting for the candidate that best reflects their worldview. I believe we must be more diligent in holding elected officials accountable. It is time for greater transparency in government. We must have less secrecy by government, put in the hands of the American citizens. So that they have the information that they need to make their families safe in order to secure the country, strengthen democracy and develop the courage to tackle the hard issues facing our country. United America stands, divided America falls. Let's try a little more civility towards each other and finally address some real issues. Your future depends on it.

--J. C. Bowman is a public policy analyst who resides in Cleveland, TN..
He can be reached by email at: flapolicy@hotmail.com. 

Visit his website at: www.policyexperts.net
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