POLITICS---PLAYING THE GAME

Well, as the old farmer said, "The hay is in the barn." There is not a lot left for the candidates to do in this election.

It's now up to the voters. Let's hope that more of them will speak, for, you see, there is no greater privilege, and, yes, no greater responsibility, as Americans, than to exercise the vote.

Alas, we treat it too lightly. Chances are, less than half the eligible voters in Royston will go to the polls Tuesday. That is sad.

Many have lost faith in their government.

Don't.

Winston Churchill said that democracy is the worst form of government......except for all the others. With all its flaws......flaws that infect all of us......it still works.......if we work at making it work.

I have enjoyed this......my first (and probably last).....campaign. I want to thank so many of you for the kind words of encouragement that have made the past few months so enjoyable. I especially want to thank those who so generously offered to contribute financially to my campaign. I know that your motives were completely unselfish. You were not asking for anything except the promise to do my best. If I am elected, that is what I will try to do.

I hope, and believe, that you understood my motive in refusing contributions.... to try and change the way the game of politics is played. Money has become too prevalent in the outcome of elections

We will know next Tuesday if my strategy worked.

From my standpoint, this has not been a negative campaign. That is rare. In politics we seem we go out of our way to find fault.

I want to thank the other candidates for the way they have run their races. It reflects well on all of us.

There will be NO losers next Tuesday, except for the citizens who did not vote.

Some will get elected, some won't; however, that is not the point. Grantland Rice, one of America's greatest sportswriters, made the point much better than I ever could. A poem he wrote many years ago sums it up thusly:

"For when the One Great Scorer comes

To write against your name,

He marks--not that you won or lost--

But how you played the game."

May we never forget Who is keeping score.

C2005 Dave Nelson