LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Democracy works best when people do their homework

I hope the heart of Stephenson County has not grown smaller, but I feel the people have been misled.

The Republican Party that they have trusted and supported with their vote is not the Republican Party of 1970, or 1998, or even of 2014.

It has become a party of top-down power, elected officials that have been able to take advantage of the support of the people who have always felt the Republicans best represented their values, without the people knowing what the candidate's values and motivations truly are.

Skipping election forums, avoiding meeting the public with tele-townhall meetings or no meetings at all, not returning emails or calls, how is the public supposed to know these people and what their values, motives, and positions on issues are?

A government of the people, by the people, for the people needs to be powered by the people, from the bottom up.

The representatives on the Stephenson County Board that want to sell the nursing home would like to make the decision to sell Walnut Acres without giving the people of the county a voice, unlike the county boards of1970 or1998.

They want the people to accept their reasoning for the sale without making their reasons, and the facts supporting those reasons, freely accessible to the public, as those opposing the sale of Walnut Acres have.

The Stephenson County Democrats have added an entire new section to their website, accessible through the drop-down menu, supplying information supporting their position on Walnut Acres.

More than one board member that proposes the sale has stated that the public doesn't know enough about Walnut Acres to make an informed vote on a referendum.

Isn't that a challenge to the people to find out more about what their motives are for selling the nursing home, and for not wanting the people to show their preference by offering in on the ballot as a referendum?

Democracy works best when the people do the work required to know the issues and the position of their representative on the issues.

Stephen Judd, Ridott