Letters

American politics need more women

Politics. Politician. For many of us, those words leave a bad aftertaste. It’s not that we believe that all politicians are bad, or corrupt; in fact, many of us know some great politicians. It’s just that we’ve found over the years, that as a whole, as a group, the majority of the politicians don’t seem to have the slightest idea of the real problems out there.

Nor does it seem to many of us, that Congress will ever be able to sit down as a group, egos aside, and work to solve the important issues of today in a practical and productive manner. That is, unless a major change occurs.

Even today, 70-plus years after women were given the right to vote, 97 percent of the House, and 97 percent of the Senate is still made up of men. It should be no wonder to anyone why Congress’ group thought process often seems so unbalanced and off track.

This cannot continue. As a nation, we must go into our communities and seek out our best and brightest women, and encourage them to immediately become involved in politics. In our schools, we need our teachers and counselors to let our young women know that politics is a viable, and potentially rewarding career, where they have the opportunity to make this a better world for all.

And as parents, we must strive to give our children all the self-confidence and self-esteem that they need on the rocky road ahead, and let them know — that any girl can grow up to be president.

JERRY SCHMEER JR.
West Yarmouth