At issue with all officials

(published in the Feb 20^th, 2000 Houston Chronicle)

What a revelation! In the Feb. 17, 2000 Chronicle article, "Campaign 2000; Gore urges rejection of GOP nominee for FEC commissioner," Al Gore is quoted as saying that the "last thing we need is a Federal Election Commission commissioner who publicly questions not only the constitutionality of proposed reforms, but also the constitutionality of current limitations.” This is the biggest problem citizens have with virtually all government officials: none of them stops to ask if something is constitutional! All the talk and consideration is whether or not it will be "good for the children" or some other special-interest group, the hidden but real beneficiary being the government.

What we need is more government officials who know and revere the Constitution and are willing to hold up to public scrutiny every government activity. How arrogant and condescending for Gore to want officials to bow to political agendas at the expense of their oath of office (to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States). Enough. It's time for citizens to send Gore and his like-minded compatriots back to the real world of private employment

Stuart L. Brogden

Houston