Real leaders focus on serving the interests of the public

Regarding “Policy by Poll: If Politicians Mimic Surveys, Who Needs Leaders?” (Sept. 5 editorial): The Post-Gazette’s opposition to restoring the public to public service is disappointing but understandable. Few in public life, including newspapers and me, easily concede we don’t know best.

The bedrock idea of the American Experiment — and The Majority Party PA — is that people have the right to govern themselves, and the role of government is to help them do it, not stand in their way. But how can citizens govern themselves when their government is openly contemptuous of public opinion? How can citizens stop the lie fest of political campaigns and focus on what the majority of us agree about instead of what drives us apart?

Go to www.themajoritypartypa.com. Look at the agenda. Majorities that candidates only dream of want to repair our roads and bridges, tax Marcellus Shale gas extraction, ensure public schools are well-funded, repair their conspicuously broken government and many other things our politicians fail to do because they serve the special interests instead of the public interest.

The PG editorial board discriminates against the Public Service Pledge on the basis of one bad pledge: Grover Norquist’s pledge. But the Public Service Pledge is entirely reasonable. It tells people a candidate is willing to restore real representation to representative democracy, not just give it lip service.

The PG worries about leadership. But leadership does not come from ignoring what people want or making backroom deals at political fundraisers. It comes from open debate in which real leaders representing various views seek public support for their ideas. And when the public has decided what it wants, real leaders direct their energy to find the best way to do it, not the way to stop it. TIM POTTS Chair The Majority Party PA Carlisle, Pa.