For the past six years in America there has been a government for those people, by those people and of those people. Unfortunately, that the founding fathers’ message. The checks and balances written into our constitution were expressly written to avoid a President having absolute control over all facets of American life. Over the experiment in American History our politics has evolved into a two party system in which the party not in power has always had the esteem of the other party for they acted and were seen as the loyal opposition, much as the parliamentary system has. However, during the present administration, even with a shift in power in the Congress, the loyal opposition has been silent and without ideas.

Now the loyal opposition does not want to take no too much as they do not have the votes to override a presidential veto. But that is just another way of saying they choose not to oppose the values and ideals of our present administration.

However, now I see another problem with American politics and that is the Press. Over the last several years the members of the Press have each learned that in order to advance their individual careers, or in order to follow the orders from their editors above, they had better not ask the hard questions, and if by chance they do get one in edgewise, they better not follow up with questions attempting to delve deeply into the meaning of the answers.

Now the press has had the opportunity to meet all of the candidates running for the office of future of president. And the press has not pressed any candidate for answers on what they would do. The easy question is what will you do if you are elected President. Even the “uncandidate” Al Gore, was asked such a question by the hard hitting press interviewer, David Letterman. His answer was a fabulous duck…to the extent that upon assuming the highest position in the land, he will study his options and make decisions with the guidance of the best and brightest minds in the field.

That is just not what the loyal opposition should be saying. It shows how unprepared he is to be the next president. However, no other candidate was asked any harder questions, and no other candidate has given any better answers. What we need is a question to each candidate, as well as each Senator, Congressman, and member of rank in the administration. The simple question is: If you were king, what are we going to do starting tomorrow. If a man (or woman) is running for President of the United States he (or she) better have an answer. Not a hide behind the hypothetical nature of the question, just an answer. What are we going to do about Iraq? What are we going to do to end our involvement there? What are we going to do about Darfur? What are we going to do about our dependence on oil? What are we going to do about global warming? What are we going to do about getting to a world in which people do not kill people?

Members of the Press, political leaders answer these questions. Answer them now, and maybe the American populace will see that there are alternatives upon which to place a reason on the why they will vote for the candidate of their choice. We the American people deserve the answers, before the election, not find out if we voted for the right person after the election. We the American people deserve the questions being asked. If the political leaders of our world will not answer these questions, then we the American people shoud change our leaders, and let them know that leaders must lead based upon knowledge, commitment, and understanding of our world, not just the talent for raising money and avoiding political downfalls. Now is the time. Members of the Press, strut your stuff and make a name for yourselves for the next generation. This is your time.