POLITICS: New leadership needed

We are in very dark times in this country. From using food stamps as political pawns to blowing up fishing boats in international waters to violently arresting people of color who may or may not be illegal immigrants, I am constantly upset. Neither party seems able to lead our country effectively.

A new group of political players is getting traction around the country: Independents. Dan Osburn in Nebraska says it’s not left vs right, it’s big vs little. Trillion-dollar tax breaks yet no money for food stamps? No money for healthcare subsidies for means-tested folks who can’t afford it otherwise? We need universal healthcare insurance like 72 other countries in the world.

In Idaho, Todd Achilles is challenging Jim Risch for his Senate seat next year as an Independent. As he says, both parties keep growing the national debt, keep us in forever wars, threaten our public lands and support corporations over families. He has been traveling across Idaho, meeting with Idahoans in every county to hear their concerns.

If we can elect even a small group of independent candidates to political positions across the country, they can disrupt this two-party system by denying a majority vote along party lines to pass legislation. They can serve as a fulcrum, hopefully bringing some balance to this back-and-forth partisan infighting that is chaotic and disruptive — and fundamentally corrupt, due to the huge amounts of money in today’s politics.

KATHLEEN PAINTER

Bonners Ferry