In a week we will perform the sacred duties of a free people, go to the polls, and elect the individuals who will govern us and make our laws. About half of our population will abstain from this duty — a shame, and a slap at those who have died to defend their right to do so. Many of those who do go to the polls will know very little about the people for whom they’re voting — equally shameful.

When the Constitutional Convention finished its work in the fall of 1787, nobody knew if the revolutionary document would be OK’d by the minimum nine states.

In New York, one of the key states, and one with a history of anti-federalist positions and politicians, diverse articles appeared lambasting the new Constitution and recommending its defeat. To counter these and promote the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote a series of articles both explaining, and defending the new proposed form of government. These came to be called “The Federalist Papers,” and are numbered from 1 to 85.

Federalist 57 deals with qualifications for election to the House of Representatives and when read today, shows both how forward-looking was this group, and also how very 18th century. Madison writes about the expected character of the representative: “In the first place, as they will have been distinguished by the preference of their fellow-citizens, we are to presume that in general they will be somewhat distinguished also by those qualities which entitle them to it, and which promise a sincere and scrupulous regard to the nature of their engagements.”

He continues: “...the House of Representatives is so constituted as to support in the members an habitual recollection of their dependence on the people. Before the sentiments impressed on their minds by the mode of their elevation can be effaced by the exercise of power, they will be compelled to anticipate the moment when their power is to cease, when their exercise of it is to be reviewed, and when they must descend to the level from which they were raised; there forever to remain unless a faithful discharge of their trust shall have established their title to a renewal of it.”

The authors of the Federalist papers were busy guys, and didn’t really get into political parties, except to mention them as factions, which they described only in sinister terms.

So what would they think of our situation today? What would they think of a political party that has brought the country into an unnecessary and costly invasion and occupation? What would they think of a party with two members of Congress going to jail over the past year for bribery; one resigning for perversion, another under indictment, and several others under investigation for undue influence in a lobbying scandal? What would they think of a faction that espoused fiscal conservatism, but spent money like King George.

The authors would probably suggest looking to the individual, to see the degree to which they enabled this mark on free government. Was there a “sincere and scrupulous regard to the nature of their engagements?” Is he a “citizen whose merit may recommend him to the esteem and confidence of his country?”

We live in the 8th Georgia District, and our Congressional Representative is Lynn Westmoreland. Here is what I know about Mr. Westmoreland:

He was a builder who got into state politics and was the heir designee for the extraordinarily safe seat vacated by Mac Collins.

He has never introduced a bill in Congress. He opposed the voting rights act. Otherwise he was a complete rubber stamp for President Bush. He did nothing when a business on the edge of his district sickened several hundred of his constituents. He supported a federal law allowing builders to end run local zoning laws and proceed directly to the federal courts.

He has supported the explosive spending and enormous deficits imposed on us by this administration. He looked like a complete buffoon on the Stephen Colbert show and when asked to list the Ten Commandments he wanted to hang in courthouses, was unable to do so.

He told a Christian group he “voted for torture.” I suppose that’s a big joke to a guy who was of prime military age during the Vietnam War, but failed to get anywhere near the military.

Can we do no better than this guy? Has it come down to my team vs. your team, regardless of merit? Do we have to put up with this political hack because the Republican Party was too lazy to look for someone competent?

The answer ought to be obvious. Much genius was spent, and much blood spilled so that every two years “they will be compelled to anticipate the moment when their power is to cease, when their exercise of it is to be reviewed, and when they must descend to the level from which they were raised.”

This district’s rubber-stamping the Republican choice is a sham on Democracy and a disgrace to the process. We can use the excuse that we are not alone —look at Cynthia McKinney. If you would like to compare yourself to the voters who put McKinney in office all those years, you’re welcome to it.

Mr. McGraw is a viable alternative. A self-professed “conservative,” he would fit with this county’s emphasis on limited government. More importantly his election would send a powerful message that the Republican Party can’t just hurl their lightweight hacks in our direction and have them routinely elected.

Timothy Parker
Peachtree City, Ga.