Lately, the impression has been given that any person can be a serious candidate for public office. Paris Hilton, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly are presumably all as equally qualified to be president as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.

It is ironic that despite the dire warnings of educators that the level of knowledge of our citizens has steadily decreased in the last 40 years and that we rank among the lowest of countries in the world in general knowledge, more and more citizens have let their anger with their current representatives lead them to think that no special qualifications are necessary to be elected to office.

It is to be hoped that before the coming election, mature and sober reflection will replace the self-destructive rage now dominating the political dialogue.

From Chicago Suntimes 10/30/10

http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/letters/2849490,CST-EDT-vox31.article

Paul Hegge