Viewpoints
Learn How to Run
Thank you for the cover story (summer 2008) on “Politicos.” As a state representative in Colorado, and formerly a member of our elected state board of education, I have often wondered who else is in elected office among our alumnae. I would be interested in having those of us in office connect more directly, perhaps through the new Mount Holyoke Facebook application. I also wonder who else is out there raising a family while in elected office. I just had a daughter, Zoe Grace, in August.
I would encourage any alumna interested in running for office or becoming more involved in politics to look at the work of the White House Project (www.whitehouseproject.org) that trains women interested in running for office. They host “Go Run” weekend workshops in locations across the country. As one of their trainers, I have seen women complete their training, run for office, and win their elections the first time out. I appreciate the attention to a topic that is near and dear to my heart and hope it is the first of many stories on the subject.
—Karen Middleton ’88, Aurora, Colorado
Government Not the Answer
Professor Doug Amy’s Web site, Government is Good (www.governmentisgood.com), reinforces what we were all told in school—that government is good. Former Treasury Secretary William Simon wrote: “One of the things that I learned during my tenure in Washington is that the civics-book picture of government operation is completely inaccurate … A more accurate image would be that of a runaway train with the throttle stuck wide open—while the passengers and crew are living it up in the dining car.”
Although there are many well-intentioned people who work in government, many people are waking up to the reality that government is not as good as we thought. The economic crisis that we are facing is largely the result of the government/Federal Reserve’s mismanagement of monetary policy. On top of that, government continually spends more than it brings in. When was the last time we had a balanced budget? Our government sends us into senseless wars that kill innocent people and it comes with a heavy price tag that you, our children, and I will pay for.
It took 194 years for the government to accumulate the first trillion dollars of public debt; by 1986 the public debt passed the $2 trillion mark, having doubled in five years. Now the public debt is more than $10 trillion.
Thanks to the lack of discretion and wasteful spending of the government, each member of my household’s share of the debt is $33,925.40, and that is the same for every person in your household, too. And Professor Amy says we need more government? The government that we have is not sustainable. More government is not the answer.
—Mary McPhillips Menendez ’89, Kingston, New Hampshire
Got Opinions? Let Us Know!
We continue to welcome letters for the printed Quarterly. Indeed, we crave them. What’s the use of singing our hearts out to an empty theater? We need your ideas, your opinions, your letters. Surely, you have an opinion about how to live green in a browning world or how to handle being a stay-at-home mom. Or perhaps you’ve seen the land art profiled in Erin Hogan’s book and want to share your comments. Let us know what you think! Please!
Of course, we will edit your letters for accuracy, length, and clarity. (There ain’t nothin’ that don’t git better with some good editin’.) [Really, you’ll thank us.—the editors] You can also post your comments online (There's a "comment" box at the end of every article.). We especially like hearing from you by e-mail. Send your thoughts, then, to mbomann@mtholyoke.edu. You’ll feel better—and so will we.
