Our Future Lies in A Better Educated Public

2024 continues to be an election year that has Americans shaking their heads as to the choices they have at the ballot box. This year, we will have the opportunity to elect office holders ranging from the highest office in the land to candidates for some of the more local, state and federal offices that are up for election. 

It was Winston Churchill who said, “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government, except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Those words just seem to come back to echo in my ears as the incessant drumbeat of political slogans and robo calls continue to inundate our everyday lives. All of this before we vote in the primary election. 

Here in Collier County, we are not immune to this constant barrage of political messaging. Those running for office are out on a daily basis attempting to maneuver for endorsements from media outlets, well-known community members and fellow office holders. 

We will be barraged by mailers, social media postings, along with TV and radio ads promoting individuals running for office. Many times, these mailers and ads have little to do with the job they are seeking to hold on behalf of their citizens. Unfortunately, they are also aimed at the “fear factor” and mask what might be expected from an individual if elected. 

Many of the issues facing Floridians are lost in the wave of ads concerning immigration, terrorism and protecting the right to bear arms. These are important issues, but for the most part, must be worked on at the federal level. 

Issues I want to hear discussed include: 

Florida has topped the 22 million population mark in 2023 and there are an additional 1,000 people a day moving into our state. With that growth comes challenges and we must be prepared to deal with them in a forthright and intelligent manner. 

Dealing with those challenges will require a sensible and cost-effective approach. Simply throwing money at an issue is not the answer but instead, we must have leaders that are prepared to sit down from both sides of the aisle and deal with the challenges in an educated and reasoned fashion. 

Your votes during the primary may well decide who will be going forward to tackle these thorny issues on your behalf. Whether it be for the clerk of court, school board seats, state representative, state senate, county commissioners or a myriad of other offices, your vote is important. 

I believe FDR said it best when he said, “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”   

Take the time and effort to study the facts, not just the brochures. By exercising this right, which many around the world don’t have the opportunity to do, you will have a say in how our lives and the lives of your children and grandchildren may look in the years to come.