DON'T OVERLOOK GOOD NEWS

Published in USA TODAY'S Letters - October 29, 2001

Less than two months after horrendous terrorist attacks took thousands of innocent lives, our nation is replete with bad news. The United States and our allies are at war with terrorism at home and around the world. As the primary battle in Afghanistan rages on, our economy is taking heavy blows, the people are steeped in uncertainty, gripped by anthrax scares and frightened by threats of further terrorist attacks.

Whether we realize it or not, however, it's not all bad news. Patriotism, compassion, generosity and goodwill have bubbled up all over the country. People are meeting their neighbors for the first time. Americans are gaining a better understanding of Muslims here and around the world. People are re-examining themselves and their values. Consumers are re-assessing their priorities, and the price of oil and gas is falling.

In our democratic republic it's good to know that we voters are evaluating the performance of our government, our state and local officials, our elected representatives and senators in Congress and our President. It's better to know that we will be able to either keep them or make the necessary adjustments on each election day. Indeed, the best news is, during these times more than ever, we can scrutinize our society and depend on the collective judgement of our fellow citizens to make America what it was meant to be.

Daniel B. Jeffs, founder
The Direct Democracy Center