Wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year are the rule of the day, and we offer them without reservation to all of our readers.
The wish for good health is self-explanatory, easily understood without elaboration. The wish for prosperity is a bit more complicated. One dictionary defines prosperity as "the state of being prosperous; advance or gain in anything good or desirable; successful progress in any business or enterprise; attainment of the object desired; good fortune ..."
We hope our readers and the tristate community will enjoy prosperity as defined. We hope everyone finds good fortune and economic ease and comfort. But our heartfelt wish for prosperity comes with a broader meaning, as well.
In the coming year, our wishes include the desire for the political prosperity that widespread citizen participation invariably produces. That involvement is often viewed in a monetary sense. But financial contributions, if one chooses to make them, do not always produce a positive effect when it comes to politics.
Hopefully, individuals will find other ways to participate in our democratic way of government. Ideally, that would involve a willingness to engage in positive discussion of important issues.
That may seem like an impossibility at a time when bitter, highly partisan politics is the rule of the day, but the New Year is a time when all things seem more possible than at other times. That's why we make resolutions.
Turning resolutions made in the spirit of holiday celebration into resolve that produces lasting benefit is, of course, difficult. It will take concerted effort on the part of politicians and those they purportedly serve to make that happen. The coming year -- a busy one in political terms -- provides an opportunity to bring change to the current political equation.
There are numerous elections on the 2010 calendar. This year, citizens of Hamilton County will fill every county office except state judges and the property assessor. They'll vote as well for governor, for members of the general Assembly and for a 3rd District representative to Congress. There are no elections scheduled in the city of Chattanooga, but other municipalities within the county will hold elections.
That's certainly a full slate, one that that calls for political responsibility from both candidates and electorate. The former should speak clearly and candidly, addressing issues head-on rather than following scripts that sound good but mean little. The times require such serious discussion.
If citizens do their part, they'll demand such conversations. Voters, like those who seek their vote, have a responsibility to understand the issues, to consider the merits of various candidates and to cast a ballot based on conviction and principal rather than political affiliation .
The political health and prosperity of the community, the state and the nation depend heavily on an enlightened and educated citizenry. If we are to be prosperous in the best and broadest sense of the word, we should all play a more vigorous role in the political process. In 2010, that is our wish, and our resolution for today.