Letter: Nearman encourages independent thoughts, actions

Mike Nearman has demonstrated unusual determination to affect the political process.

His guiding principle is to return this state to small government and a society that is built on self-determination. His belief is that government should only engage in activities that citizens require and can’t do for themselves.

The recent growth of government, the related redistribution of wealth and the dependence on government by a large proportion of the citizenry concerns Mike. That concern has caused him to study all legislation in recent years. In doing so, he has gained a familiarity with state government that is unrivaled by elected officials.

His contagious enthusiasm in this study has caused a resurgence in citizen participation in government affairs.

To be effective, our system of government requires citizen participation. Mike Nearman has made our government better by encouraging citizen participation. He leads by example, not by imposing his will on fellow citizens, but by encouraging independent thought and action.

A lack of independent thought by many of our elected leaders has been replaced by submission and adherence to party caucus consensus. Mike understands that elected officials who fall into this pattern don’t repair their mistakes; they only compound them.

Thomas S. Hammer

Salem