Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
FORT WAYNE - What does a political speech in Fort Wayne to middle school students have to do with Kosciusko County?
Elections are a month away and people need to know as much about the candidates as possible to make the best judgment, that's what.
Even though they won't be voting until sometime in the next millennium, Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate Paul Helmke talked to Fort Wayne Blackhawk Middle School students as if they were voting this year.
"I remember when I was their age, I never saw the mayor. When I did, I felt like I was being talked down to," Helmke said.
He said he was letting the students know that they could make a difference. Their attitudes about government and elections weren't going to change after a five-minute speech, but it may help get them thinking, he said. His message might help them relate later on, he said.
Plus, he said, "I like talking to school groups."
Talking to such groups is really when many of his political stances come to light.
Helmke said it is everyone's responsibility to deal with problems at hand. Many people, he said, just let others take care of the problems facing society.
"When you stop to think about it, it's our responsibility," Helmke said.
Helmke told the students that the three parts of government most despised are three of the most important parts of government. He said those three things are the government itself, taxes and politicians.
"Every culture, every country, has had government throughout history," he said. "The challenge for us is to have as good a government as we can. Government is us."
Helmke asked the students if they paid taxes. The teachers raised their hands. He asked if they liked taxes - no one raised their hands. Finally, he asked the students if they'd like to live in a tax-free society. Everyone raised their hands.
"That means no police, no parks, no streets. No taxes means none of the things government provides," he said.
As for politicians, Helmke said, the opposite would be to have a king.
"Our government is one of the few where we are in charge," he said.
"No participation means that someone else would be in charge sooner or later."
The last thing Helmke let the students know is that like all other U.S. tax-paying citizens, they are in charge of the government.
"Does anyone know who my boss is? It's you! In America, people are the boss," he said.
The crowd went wild.
