Letter to the Editor: Our politicians' priorities

Dear Editor:

In 1789, our Founding Fathers gave us a constitution outlining a new form of government -- a democracy. To point to the values they wanted expressed in that constitution, they added a preamble that in one sentence of 52 words addressed five core values, one of which was stated to “insure domestic tranquillity.”

Our present day politicians, regardless of party affiliation, spend more time on senseless arguing than debating common sense solutions to the complexities of our modern day society.

In 2017, our nation’s people willingly gave more than $400 billion to nonprofit organizations. That is significantly more money than our politicians have used out tax dollars to solve the issues of homelessness, seniors on fixed incomes having the means to maintain a lifestyle that ensures they will not become homeless, and providing our most deserving returning veterans with the means to adjust to a tranquil society.

Why don’t they get it?

In my humble opinion, they are more interested in protecting their own selfish desires than protecting the values of “We the People.”

A modern complex society needs politicians who understand the need and requirement of common sense in order to ensure the values of our most precious constitution and the Preamble that gave us guidance on the need for domestic tranquillity.

I’m by no means a scholar on the construction of our constitution. That clearly said, it’s time “We the People” strongly advocate the need for common sense to guide our elected officials to practice a common sense approach to our societies need and requirement to maintain a healthy and prosperous society capable of solving complex issues domestically and globally.

Who am I?

I’m a resident and homeowner in Downey. I’m a citizen of the United States born on November 12, 1941 at the Highland Park General Hospital in Highland Park, Michigan. I served in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1965.

I spent nearly a decade working for the federal government with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air traffic controller responsible for the safety of the airspace over much of SoCal. In 1975, on my own cognition, I resigned in order to pursue a career in business. I now manage a nonprofit called Homeless & Senior Hero’s, Inc.

I have no desire to be a politician nor at my age try to manage an advocacy. I do however wish to bring attention to the need for politicians to apply common sense to our society's needs, sooner rather than later.

As such, I remain hopeful our politicians will pay more attention to the common sense needed to promulgate meaningful solutions to a society charged with the responsibility to provide for domestic and global tranquility by our modern technological society.

Dennis Billings
Downey