To the editor:

We are about 15 months away from, hopefully, a monumental change in the citizens representation in St Paul. Rational and “legal” citizens must take their duty responsibly, as they go to the polls to cast their vote. There are opportunities other than voting, however, to have your voice heard. Participate in your local BPOU’s (Basic Political Organizational Unit), attend and participate in your local caucus, county, district and state conventions. If you commit yourself to vote because of your party affiliation, you should, at least, know the basic principles of what that particular party espouses as well as the people that represent those principles.

We, the people, have been given a gift from our Founders called The Constitution of the United States. We, as citizens, determine the limits by which we are to be governed. That doesn’t happen by magic, it happens by being involved. We determine who will represent us. Thus far, we haven’t done a very good job as we look at our current status.

We have become lazy and apathetic resulting in the creation of a state government that has become overbearing and abusive to its citizens. Government is necessary for some things but not for all things. Too many people have allowed government to resolve issues that it has no authority to resolve. We have elected people and allowed them to abuse the rights of the people through the creation of regulatory bureaucracies. These bureaucracies are financed through the collection of taxes.

So, if you are disgusted with the burdens placed upon you by the government, then get involved and do something about it. It’s not just your right to do so, it’s your obligation and duty as a citizen to take on that responsibility.

Roger Baumann

Wabasso