Letter to the editor: The career politician and the honest man

Many years ago, I was employed by my local township. I learned a valuable lesson that I am reminded of by the 2020 election.

I remember one election in particular. We had two first-time candidates running for office. Both campaigned on their desire to improve our township and the lives of its citizens. Both were elected. It was obvious that one of these guys really was working for his constituents while the other had been sucked into the “dark side” of politics.

Reelection time came around. The “career politicians” were all against the reelection of the honest man. The honest man was defeated at the polls. The newly corrupted politician was reelected.

Present day: I believe President Trump, the outsider who pulled back the swamp curtain a little bit, has been sabotaged from day one by the “dark side of politics.” For all the Trump haters who think this sabotage was justified, remember this from Abraham Lincoln’s 1838 speech at the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Ill.: “At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”

Jeanne Shields

North Huntingdon