TOMORROW-VOTE

 

 When I was growing up one of my sandlot football friends/opponents was Harrison (Pete) Williams, the son of a Republican who was president of a burial vault company.        

 After an abortive attempt to practice law in New Hampshire where outsiders were shunned he returned to Practice in Plainfield and as a Democrat in this solid GOP land he was elected to Congress and several years later to the Senate where he was instrumental in passage of such landmark laws as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which protects worker pensions, and the 1969 Coal Mine Safety and Health Act.

  “Once known as ''senator for life,'' and the only New Jersey Democrat to be elected to four Senate terms, Senator Williams was convicted on May 1, 1981, on nine counts of bribery and conspiracy for promising to use his office to further a business venture in which he had a hidden interest. He was fined $50,000 and sentenced to three years in prison, which he served at a minimum-security federal prison in Allenwood, Pa.” (NYTimes).  
   He was the first Senator in 80 years to be sentenced to jail. It could have happened again but for a hung jury.

   On March 11, 1982, he resigned in the face of overwhelming indications that more than two-thirds of the Senate, where he had served for 23 years, were about to expel him.

   I mention this because it is 36 hours before the country sets its course for the next 2 years.

  For myself the issue is not “Blue or Red”. But one of ethical moralities. Accepting the fact that it is a rarity to find a Politician whose ethics are beyond questioning; the choice is too often between bad and “bader”.

  This year we have been bombarded with the most negative TV ads in my recollection.  Both the Senate race candidates have been to say the least, liberal with the truth. In their case  

  I feel that history of ethical transgressions and/or belief in campaign promises tip the scale.

  The other problem we have in New Jersey is the entrenched political machines who excel in joint cross locality jobs as well as patronage and nepotism.   

  These are strangleholds that it will take the participation of all voters especially the large unaffiliated group at the polls to loosen.

 I have cast my ballot and do not expect all to be for the winner, but Anon I feel that I have acted in the best interests of a Democracy.

  Please all of you exercise your privilege as a citizen and VOTE even if it is for the one I consider to be wrong.  

Sorry about the change in font size; although I tried many times to correct it always reverted to  a small print.