ae6dad21d91292c97f4fb15d14f4cd23 | 03/21/2008 2:43 pm

Life in the Little Lane: Edith Ann's Plan to Save the World

I think we should all write Washington with ideas on how to make the world better. Here’s a letter I wrote:

Dear Senator:

I think I know how to make the world a better place. Here is my idea. Kids learn how to act in the world by seeing how grownups act in the world. I do not think the world can ever get better unless this changes. We must make grown-ups act better. If this is not possible, we will just have to put warning stickers on the ones who are not suitable for kids to be around.

To get this idea rolling, we could start by putting warning stickers on politicians.

Yours truly,
Edith Ann

Read more about: Edith Ann, Life in the Little Lane, Politics

46 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Dear Edith Ann: I think you are addressing the wrong people. If you were a parent instead of pretending you are a kid you would know that kids don’t even know there’s such a thing as Washington, let alone what a politician is. What kids know is how their parents behave toward them. If Mom spends more time at the office and with grown-ups than she spends with the child, the child knows what is more important to her. And it isn’t the child. If you are trying to make the world a better place for children as well as adults that starts locally. Its a funny idea to put labels on politicians and think you are doing something to help the kids. Go to the local community and donate time to the library and after-school programs. You’ll really be helping a kid. I applaud this website for allowing me to voice my opinion.

By imp on 03/22/2008 12:52 am

Who’s pretending?

By MugsyPeabody on 03/22/2008 5:00 pm

Dear Mr. Bush, why don’t you and your Presidential Library retire to Iraq? Did y’all know that they are tearing down student housing to make room for his library on the SMU campus? All that aside, I would like the people to just stop right now and look at what they are doing at that given moment. Are they holding their child’s hand or closed up in their office? Are they reading their child a book or reading People magazine? Are they showing their child the beauty of the world around them or letting CNN put their spin on things? Are they teaching their child right from wrong or is it “do as I say and not as I do”? Are they teaching acceptance of people that are different or are they teaching hatred and bias? A kid’s world is their home, their teachers are their parents and extended family. Do parents surround themselves with the kind of people that are a good influence on their children? In order to change the world, we have to change the people in the world. Right now it is a vicious cycle that keeps repeating itself from generation to generation.

By MareK on 03/22/2008 1:24 am

You’re right, Mare. We’ve got to get men more involved with important aspects of life. But, SMU and GW #43 rather go’together in that regard, you mentioned - shoving people out of their homes. It seems they completely missed the teachings of Dr. Maslow.

By Upanaway on 03/22/2008 7:02 am

Edith Ann, it would take many printings of the warning stickers to cover all the politicians who need one!!

By kenjukenju on 03/22/2008 1:31 am

Just check out their voting records on www.congress.org

By Upanaway on 03/22/2008 7:03 am

Dear Edith Ann, I am glad to see you are thinking of things which will make our world better… and we grownups should take time to consider whether we’d have one of your stickers put on us! Politicians are likely a good place to begin the “Warning: This Grownup’s actions are a Bad Example.” I’m thinking you’ll need quite a few for the greedier types in the “entertainment” industry, corporate world, media, insurance industry… Truly? Every bunch of humans has way too many bad eggs it seems. I really like your idea of Warning Labels. *checks her back for a sticker*

By cloudpic on 03/22/2008 7:46 am

It does seem that in the U.S., where the standards of ethical conduct are ruminated in every hall of congress, the moral and ethical requirements for protecting the public trust are competely out the window once someone is “sworn in.” There are expected standards in every professional field, and for all elected officials, and government employees in the USA. They do not extend to private, “in-home” activities, unless such may violate another’s privacy, or cause harm to anyone else, including any institution. As holders of the public trust, a great deal is expected; it’s an honor as well. That includes anyone involved in any aspect of philanthropy. It is increasingly apparent we permit our elected to sink to a far too low level of expectations — it has nothing to do with “us,” the public — those we elect are expected to perform in a high conduct level. We pay them, in advance if you please, and we must expect far more from them. They were not appointed, they requested and volunteered to serve, via a competitive forum. One year, NY ousted many of its elected shortely after they were sworn into office; a grand action by the voters. They must not be eligible for a golden parachute, ad infinitum, when they do not honor the public trust, nor serve appropriatiely. The White House Press Secretary made a horrendous guffaw last week in stating that the president knew the voters did not want such and such, but he was going to act on his convictions—we haven’t a clue where his convictions originated, nor by whom. That is not sufficient. Perhaps she was mistaken, but worse, she would not give equal time to those present for a discussion.

By Upanaway on 03/22/2008 12:51 pm

And that’s the truth.

By salt on 03/22/2008 12:12 pm

Hello, folks. Get the websites of YOUR representative and senators, YOUR governor and state legislators, YOUR mayor and city counsel and write to those people. And don’t forget “president@whitehouse.gov.” Much is made of the web and blogs, but it’s just streaming electrons circling the globe going round and round. Contacting YOUR politicians provides real information they need. Be sure, lobbyists spend more time contacting their politician than blogging.

By LAR on 03/22/2008 1:06 pm

My Mommy taught me that I had no right to destroy what other people created. Would that be a good rule for the world?

By KaySara on 03/22/2008 2:07 pm

Dear Senator: How about making it a law that everyone needs to be nice to everybody else. People can be so mean to each other sometime.

By MarieMcConnell on 03/22/2008 4:05 pm

I’ve tried this approach to our California Congresswomen Boxer and Feinstein (as well as President Bush) by reminding them that our children are observing our behavor with regards to the Occupation in Iraq and increased US deficet. No response todate. It’s a good idea to voice issues on our childrens behalf.

By MarutDelRio on 03/22/2008 5:29 pm

WE ARE ALL DISCONNECTED… Dear World Leaders: In a world where everything is computer-based, when we are sending faxes, e-mails, conference calls and videos, where is there any human contact? Is that what we lost when we went through the selfishness of the ’80s and the greed of the ’90s? Are our children losing the focus because of the world they grew up in? Why can’t we get back to the basics of nurturing, caring and compassion for one another? How easy is it to stick a sick parent into a nursing home and let someone else do it? When do we spend the time with our kids to really sit down and talk to them, not just as a parent, but as a friend? Listening to someone is the key to our society. Listen to their words, their desires, their needs, and then get up and do something about it! Just don’t say you will and then do nothing. What kinds of morals and values are we instilling in our children when we do absolutely nothing? 0+0=0 Listen, think and teach our fellow man, then hopefully they will make a difference as you did for them. Helise Flickstein

By HeliseFlickstein on 03/23/2008 3:18 am

Talking about no response from our elected officials: I pet peeve of mine is when you write to them and then they send you a canned “topic” response that is not even addressing the issue you wrote to them about. They would be better off not responding at all instead of being so obvious that they are not listening and just interested in getting our their canned “look what I did” propoganda message.

By KaySara on 03/23/2008 6:07 am