PUBLIC VIEWPOINT

How Can The Government Restore Trust?

Every law abiding, tax paying, play by the rules person I speak to, without exception, says they no longer trust our government. I feel the same way. There is not one thing I can think of that leads me to believe anything our government says. From the administration, from Congress, from themilitary, from the bloated federal bureaucracy - everything seems to be an outright lie, couched in some sort of spin, ignored or denied. The problem is when citizens lose faith in the credibility and/or honesty of their government, what is left?

Unfortunately, not much.

The question now is how can the government begin to restore trust. I suggestpoliticians, bureaucrats and military leaders start by trying something novel - honesty. Trust must be earned and one of the best ways to earn it is to fess up and take responsibility for your actions. I see no one in government coming remotely close to doing this. It’s always someone else’s fault or problem, or worse yet, it’s not even a problem. How ignorant dothey think we are?

I really don’t expect much to change but, at least, I’ve got this off my chest. By the way, if I go missing you’ll know that the NSA has monitored my emails, letters and telephone calls and decided I’m a risk of some sort.

PETE RATHMELL

Garfi eld

Opinion, Pages 10 on 07/21/2013

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