We need to put more faith in our elected officials
In the historic Illinois Senate race of 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and then incumbent Senator Stephen Douglas it became apparent throughout the debates  there was one major glaring difference between the two candidates.

In general, Mr. Douglas felt that popular sovereignty should be the law of the land and that the people of each state should be free to choose the law that best suits. This idea, argued Sen. Douglas, is the rule of democracy. However, Mr. Lincoln felt just the opposite. He felt that there was a certain defining set of moral principles of which no democracy can depart from.

It was this guiding light from which a people of any state, indeed, from which the people of our republican form of government, could not stray. Mr. Lincoln concluded, generally, that even if there were unpopular decisions by our government in the face of the instant tidings of the populace, our government must make those hard decisions in the best interest of the people.

It is with this in mind that I am ever more disturbed by the use of polls in gauging widespread support, or lack thereof, for possible legislation to be passed by our government. I was saddened by a CNN report today which gave such importance to the fact that nationwide polls see support for President Obama’s stimulus plan as faltering. I suppose that my simple, yet supercilious response to these polls would be, “So what?”

We have elected our leaders in this republican form of government to do what they think is right for the direction of our country because we, the populace, need to place our faith in these leaders to do what is right for our nation, no matter the “popular” cost. Indeed, while senators may find the opinion of an expert in the field of economics persuasive as to whether or not the stimulus bill should be accepted or rejected, why should they find the opinion of race-car drivers, accountants or firefighters persuasive; all of whom have no expertise in the field? I find that increased reliance on these polls subject our leaders to the whims of a public whose opinion changes with the breeze, and I fear that in the long run, Douglas’ mistaken idea of popular sovereignty may win out if this continues.

While I personally support the stimulus package as presented by the president, I can only hope that when our full congress ultimately passes, or rejects, the proposed stimulus bill it does so not on the basis of polls, but on their collective consciousness to do what is proper and morally just for the future of our Country. In short, pass it or reject it on the merits, not upon popular sovereignty.

Jerry J. Marzullo, Berwyn