Politics as Usual

To the Editor: 
As I walked from the County Park toward the hills at the golf course, I saw a horribly-smashed, plastic sled. It was at a tree near the bottom of a partially-snow-covered hill. Nearby I found a can of computer duster. It is huffed to get high. I wondered if the two were connected. The woods in Rio Grande have been littered with these cans for years. During this same trek, I found a picnic table thrown into the water in one of the more remote areas of the park. I have pictures of all these things. Walking throughout the community over the years, I have collected pictures evidencing the many homeless that take shelter in the woods as well. We are moving in the wrong direction and have been for quite a while.
The pitiful, national, political picture is born in places just like Cape May County. That both party leaders accomplished judgeship simultaneously is a statement to our political structure. Filling their shoes is not difficult. Ambitious attorneys are lined up across the county. Our state senator who must facilitate these appointments has also had a remarkable political career. Unfortunately for the balance needed, the party facilitating his unlikely start has not had the same success.
Cape May County freeholders are much like an employment agency for the county. This spoils system was in place long before any of our current members were elected. Not that I can remember that far back but it is confirmed by reliable sources. Regrettably, it now operates with great impunity. Unqualified people can be placed in key positions. Paid staff will write lovely releases and present them as news articles to tout all the wonderful contributions to our communities. Seems a bit like the Washington scenario to me.
Here in Middle Township our mayor appears to be at the beginning of a rewarding political career. Not unlike that of his good friend, our esteemed state senator. Our ex-mayor who still sits on committee is now a county department supervisor. Our most recent addition to committee was elected to give the people a voice. With many of the major decisions still being made by non-residents, we don’t have much influence in the process.
The horrible truth is our political structure is not by the hands of politically-motivated folks. Nor is it because of the misguided who are listening to the nonsense of the politically-motivated. Combined they are not the majority. It is by the idle hands of all those who sit by and do nothing, who in fact are the majority of the registered voters today. These are the same people we now see flauntingly praising our current military and veterans while dismissing the very cause served by these brave men and women.
Please bear with me through these revelations. I am just trying to prepare myself for Trump’s sweep of the county. I will now continue my somewhat disquieting, yet peaceful walks before the sounds of zip liners fill the air.