After reading more "fair" appearing reporting by Brian Gadd in the Balderson-Johnston article, I was surprised by the editors who joined together to proclaim that Patrick Johnston as the "wrong remedy" for Ohio (TR 2-17). Even though Mr. Gadd described Johnston as "attacking" his opponent and Balderson was noted as refusing "to get into the back-and-forth," yet at least the priorities of the two were indicated by Balderson's desire to put the economy first and Johnston's desire to put education of children first.
From the "wrong remedy" article, one would suspect that Patrick Johnston's views on schooling might produce barefoot farmboys who only read books in the sleeping lofts of their backwoods cabins. Yet I wonder how many Abe Lincolns our current public education could produce. Our current public education system did not produce the powerhouse of economics that we call America. What produced this great country it was an education system that held a sense of Christian morality high and in fact taught it. And because of it, God blessed this good land and its people.
We have many politicians today, but few who are willing to stand on faith and depend on God like those great leaders of the past. Our nation was assembled by men who lived through many hard economic times and who knew that we could not stand on prosperity alone. John Jay, first on our Supreme Court and responsible for our constitution, wrote: "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." George Washington, himself, spoke in his farewell address: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars."
In light of our heritage, Patrick Johnston's ideas don't seem so outrageous or out of touch. The people of this country would do well to seek leaders who are not afraid to make a stand on issues regarding morality it's a pillar of our nation! When our choices have become a sordid list of politicians who waver on stance with polls and favors, how might it be to have someone in office who can begin to turn the tide of so-so leadership? When Johnston's opponent is painted as appearing ignorant of the issues because he has had to waste time on responding to the "outrageous" views of Johnston (Listen to the debate at http://johnstonforohio.com/GOP_Debate.html ), would the editors suggest that we choose the more ignorant one? It would seem that our current public education system may have done its job too well on us.
-Al Parker