The most precious thing we have is our right to choose those who will govern our affairs a right exercised at the ballot box.

Always vote your heart and conscience.

Indeed, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Our involvement must never stop on that most important day of the year when we choose those who govern.

Because new things continually crop up, vigilance in our communications must go on throughout their entire tenure of office.

Let no man think that whatever is decided in government, even Washington does not personally affect us here in Auburn.

The most defeatist thing I hear is, “you can't change things so forget trying” that is: you can't fight City Hall, the Legislature, or an echo I hear from some city councilors and legislators, “it's up to Albany and Washington.” When I hear these things, I see a person whose mind is frozen into a state of paralysis, a sign of danger that we are all headed for a despotic form of government.

No, my friends, deep down all people in government which I personally know and have known, care very much for you and me and hunger for our thoughts and opinions.

Sometimes our requests are met with inaction and perhaps for good reason. Since their charge is to work for the common good, self-serving requests, which harm the common good usually are and should be rejected rather than supported.

If those whom we choose to govern do not hear from us, they assume that either we do not care what they are doing to us and/or in fact we like what they have been doing to us.

Don't gripe.

Exercise your right to vote and if you don't, blame no one for your suffering other than yourself.

Peter Kotzer

Auburn