The ability to govern

The Constitution of these United States clearly and unequivocally expresses the right to govern for the three branches of the federal government. This document is detailed as to what is expected of those serving the people of the United States, yet the right to govern is not the prime question these days, it is the ability to govern.

We see a national government that, in many ways, has lost its ability to govern. We see policies and procedures being set up and then rescinded by our national government which tends to confuse the citizens of this country. We see money being thrown at supposed problems where problems may not truly exist. We see valid policies set up in the past being taken apart selfishly. We see a leader who hop-scotches from subject to subject and is not able to solve an underlying problem: Are the people truly being served as the Constitution outlines?

There is an artificial blending of the three branches of government which does not serve the citizenry well. Decisions are made based on party choice, whether they have planning and good sense incorporated into them or not. The idea of the Constitution to provide checks and balances has been, to some extent, undermined.

The result of this inability to govern is that we have ceased to become a people dedicated to individual and collective democracy and have become selfish in what our intentions and actions show.

How do we solve this important and vexing problem, that is, the inability to effectively govern? The answer is to once again become the people we truly are, united in purpose and willing to work with one another. How we conduct relationships, whether personally, in our government, or across the world, tells much about us as a people. GEORGE WILKEN Little Rock