In 1754, Benjamin Franklin published in his Pennsylvania Gazette what many believe to be the first American political cartoon: A writhing snake cut into pieces depicting the colonies severed from one another.

The cartoon was captioned “Join, or Die” and it admonished the colonies to put up a common defense against the French during the French and Indian War. More than two decades before the Declaration of Independence, Franklin realized that without a common united purpose the colonies were doomed to be slowly destroyed by a mighty foe.

Today, we are faced with a similar dilemma. We must be united against the power of narrow interests.

Self-interest is a natural instinct; every creature on earth acts in its own self-interest. It allows for survival and on a human level it can be heroic at times. However, in politics, narrow self-interests can lead to mischief; a proportionally small group of activist citizens can control the government at the expense of all citizens.

Under these circumstances it is in the politicians’ self-interest to keep us separated, weak and uninformed. By pitting us against one another, no united front can unseat them or threaten their power. By keeping us uninformed, they do what is in their interest without our knowledge. They are professional politicians that are geared to buying votes with collective taxes and accumulate more and more power through this process.

Professional elected politicians are an elitist class first predicted and feared by our Founding Fathers.

This is the dilemma we face today both as a nation and as a county. Due to the electorate’s unwillingness to fully participate in the political process, we are faced with politicians that believe they have a mandate in serving only those that put them into office.

More important than their belief in serving narrow interests is the idea that somehow through election they are entitled to their rank and privileges, much like a king or potentate.

However, in a virtuous representative democracy, the burden of the citizen servant is nobler and the sacrifice greater. Virtuous men and women elected to office realize that it is their duty to run the government to the benefit of all citizens. In the past these virtuous citizens worked without recognition and pay. They gave up power willingly and truly were servants of the people.

In our democracy, it is also up to the electorate to be virtuous by participating in the process. To register to vote and study the candidates and to vote informed are all duties of every citizen. The right to vote is a sacred right bought and paid for with American blood.

Even without a large turnout in elections, it is our elected officials’ responsibility to be a voice for all of the people, and to protect the public’s interest. Each representative should protect the purse of the taxpayer as if it were their purse, minimize government through effective use of resources, and remove interference by government in our daily lives.

The expansion of our government is the single biggest threat to our individual liberty and to our way of life.

Do we have virtuous elected county officials? Or do we have politicians that act in their own interest and the interest of only those that elected them? You be the judge.

There was no dialog during the primary election concerning the candidates’ position on open government. Could it be that open government might expose important issues prior to being elected, or at the very least create questions concerning these issues?

Without exposure to the issues, questions cannot be raised, debate is stifled, and democracy is thwarted. Narrow interests are served.

There will be some of those that say the political action committee Fayette Citizens for Open Government, are a group of people dissatisfied with the outcome of the last primary election.

This is true, if we include the fact that virtually no one turned out to vote in the last election. I for one am not part of FAYcog to promote any political agenda other than more open government and to encourage participation by Fayette citizens. I believe that every member of FAYcog holds these views.

Open government is essential to a representative government. It provides a forum and it stimulates participation in the political process. It helps in keeping special interests from taking control of our government. Freedom of the press, open government and citizen participation all play essential roles in the preservation of freedom through representative government.

It will be up to you to decide what representatives will represent you, but I would encourage you to support only those candidates that pledge to improve open government, that actually promote it through funded initiatives, and execute with enthusiasm the processes that will improve communication between citizens of this county and their government.

So, citizens, we must “Join, or Die.” If we don’t come together and demand more open government, if we don’t participate, then we will have politicians catering to narrow special interests. We will in fact have a dying county and a way of life that we all treasure.

We surely will not have a government of the people, by the people and for the people, but one of the few, by the few and for the few.

Please join us to promote a more open government in Fayette County, email me at savefayette@gmail.com Together we can make a difference in representative government.

James Wingo, cochairman

Fayette Citizens for Open Government

Peachtree City, Ga.

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