Editor, Ceres Courier,

The earliest colonists, and later the Founders of our nation, virtually had to do government. They had to tame the wilderness and tame themselves in order to survive. It was necessary for folks to participate in local regulation of human economic and social affairs.

Today, the socioeconomic foundations of our country have long ago been laid, and Americans have lost their sense of urgency in exercising local power. 

By now, greedy power mongers in all sectors of society have set up little empires that they rule by excluding others from the decision-making process.  

We think we are into empowerment when we assert gender identity or a truculent opinion in favor of one political celebrity or another. That is not power.  

We need to be in the seats of power ourselves. The rich and famous need to be invited to divest some of their perks and powers and share them with the middle class and the poor. We all have something to teach one another, and we all need to participate in government. 

Kimball Shinkoskey 

LETTERS POLICY: Letters to the editor will be considered for publication but must be signed and include an address and phone number. Letters should be 250 words or less and be void of libel. Send to The Ceres Courier, 138 S. Center Street, Turlock CA 95380 or emailed to jeffb@cerescourier.com.