Opinion

I tell them, “That voice is on the tip of your tongue. It’s perched on your lips. Let it fly.” And they tell me, “I can’t. My boss … my customers … my board members … my investors … my father-in-law.”

Oct. 18, 2011 — A house divided against itself cannot stand, referenced Abraham Lincoln during the famed Lincoln-Douglas debates when the 16th president was trying to become an Illinois senator.

The idea is that in the best interest of citizens, elected officials need to reach compromise through nonpartisan efforts.

The state of California at the local level — school board, city councils and supervisors — did away with electing officials along party lines for those very reasons; to make sure the community as a whole is served.

Undoubtedly firefighters are heroes in our community and we especially honor them this week for training and being prepared to put their life in danger to save ours.

But, we can do things to help them by assessing our homes and businesses for fire hazards.

It’s a constant rehash about which contender or party can be the most popular and rack up the most survey percentages.

Life appears to be just one continuing “sound bite” instead of resolutions to real problems.