We all have heard the statement “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Passion seems to rule the day while logic appears to have gone on vacation, as future and current lawmakers begin campaigning for the next election.

It’s a good bet that no matter where you are on the political spectrum, you want folks in government to be honest, responsible, incorruptible, mindful of the future and respectful.

You want them to be just like you, right?

You and I may hold profoundly differing views. However, surely we both can agree on one constant theme concerning government. The bigger it gets, the less likely it will attract those who possess the traits we all say we want.

Have you noticed how mean and nasty campaigns for any elected office have become? From the School House through the State House all the way to the White House. Lies and distortions are common political fare these days. Why would a genuinely good person subject himself to the ugliness of it all?

Increasingly, genuinely good people have stoped trying, leaving us all too often with dirt bags and demagogues in government. So we really need to think about what history has taught us. We are fast approaching an era of big government being run by bad people.

Which leads me to wonder. Does socialism somehow and miraculously counteract that?

The Democrat Party seems to have taken a turn for the worse toward so-called socialism. The party’s leading talking heads have laid the promises on pretty thick. Free Medicare for all! Guaranteed income! Guaranteed jobs! Subsidized housing! Free college! Universal pre-school! Wow, and all for free.

During my college years I read Saul Alinsky’s book, “Rules for Radicals.” A recent study revealed that West Virginia was the most socialist state in America. West Virginia’s government expenditures account for more than a third of the state’s gross domestic product. That means more than three of every 10 dollars spent in West Virginia is spent by the government. Additionally, at the same time, West Virginia was No. 2 on Forbes’ list of the 10 poorest states in the U.S.

If you haven’t read “Rules for Radicals,” I suggest you do. Socialism is alive and well in West Virginia and no one is going to say anything about it.

Socialism is the Big Lie of the 20th century. While it promised prosperity, equality and security, it delivered poverty, misery and tyranny. Equality was achieved only in the sense that everyone was equal in his or her misery.

Socialism failed in the 20th century and its failing in the 21st century. You don’t have to go to Venezuela, just drive around the local communities. Socialism is a flawed Ponzi or Pyramid scheme, based on completely faulty principles that aren’t consistent with human behavior.

Socialism has proven to be a formula for tyranny and misery.

Many of us are now witness to: “Power attracting the corrupt.”

Good day.

Robert Ware

French Creek