My high school science teacher constantly repeated one of his standards to live by: When it concerns people and facts, believe none of what you hear, none of what you read and only half of what you see.

In other words, seek the truth for yourself because truth is not subjective. When it comes to today’s politics, we would do well to heed his advice. Our present politicians are divisive and dishonest. When one of those people of any stripe tries to reduce the discourse to belittling their opponents’ character, they prove themselves dishonorable and guilty of the character flaws with which they impugn their opponents.

In all the recent issues either acted on or proposed including the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), the stimulus, man-made global warming, health care — all have been or ultimately will be destructive and do more damage if we the people allow them to stand. My hope lies wholly in divine providence and “we the people” as defined in the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. It is ultimately up to us to fix the messes we allowed those people to create.

We are in charge. If you doubt it, consider how badly they have reacted to people who disagree with them at the town hall meetings and the million-plus people who showed up in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.

They were reduced to the tactic of those who are afraid by calling names and impugning the character of the people. They truly believe they control the nation. We must disabuse them of that corrupted thinking through impeachment, petition for redress, referendum and at the ballot box.

No more professional politicians who have never held a real job, run a small business or walked the mile in another’s moccasins. No more rich lawyers or academics who look down their noses at us, believing they know what is best for us no matter what we think. This effort will require no less than what the Founders committed to the struggle for the republic: our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. Enough of over-educated idiots with no common sense and no real-life experience. If we are not totally committed to retaking the republic, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

Ken Carter

Lockwood