Hartford chronicle., 1946-09-21
MAN TO MAN
By Dick Stinson

"Politics are so rotten I don
 want to have anything to do. witt them," say many people.
 I say, Political action affect: every ones life so intimately that every citizen must be concerned.'
 As Americans we believe in de, mocracy. Democracy means ex actly this: rule by the people Now, only the people can make a democracy successful. If the people lack interest the govern ment is no longer a democracy The best hope in America today comes from the increased inte, rest of the people in theil government and in their public officials.
 Why are people more alert to l politics? Partly it is the result of more and better education. A generation ago a high school graduate was as outstanding. as a college graduate today. Now a high school diploma is a re. quirement for many ordinary jobs People know more about their government and are more concerned about it.
 They should be concerned about their government. They should always take the time and trouble to vote in an election (and be proud that they have the right of free elections). They may not think the common mans vote is important, but it is. Theodore BiIbo knows the strength of that vote and fears it - that is why he keeps the people from voting.
 They should know something about the candidates otherwise they may be voting for their ene- mics. It is not important to know the candidates families, or their hobbies or their home towns, but to know how they intend to vote on matters which affect all the people.
 ''By their fruits ye shall know them"
 The way your elected repre- sentatives vote affects you per sonally. It affects your pocket book. There are several ways of financing the costs of govern ment. After years of bitter struggle which finally required an amendment to the constitu- ton the income tax law was passed. It had been called -socialistic, communistic, and many other names. Now it is accepted as being founded on the principle of taxation according to ability to pay. The majority of the people realize that a million aire can afford 75 percent tax better than a poor man can afford 3 percent tax. That is why the income tax is fair. Other taxes, such as sales taxes, tariffs, license fees, and property taxes (which are passed on by the landlord to the rentor), hit the poor man harder than the rich man.
 Your pocketbook is also affec- ted by laws which pertain to employment. You derive bene- fits from social security legisla- ton, workmen's compensation laws, the Wagner Act which gives unions protection in seek ing better conditions, fair em- ployment laws. and health insu- rance bills. You would be harmed by laws which would prevent you from striking for a better wage.
 Your freedom is also affected. Laws can protect your freedom when they outlaw lynching and the polltax. Other laws can take away your freedom if they deny your right to strike or to have your vote count as much as anyone else's.
 The votes of your elected repre- sentatives affect your very life and security. If militarists like Andrew J. May had succeeded in giving control of the atom bomb to the Army and Navy brass-hats, we would have risked a totalitarian seizure of the country and the danger of an even more terrible World War. We had a narrow es- cape. We are still in danger of war unless our government throws all it's support to the United Ma tions and helps to build strong world government.
 Everyone is affected by the ac- tions of the politicians. Veterans are particularly concerned about elections because they deserve