To the Editor:

Politics has to change, or we need to change the politicians.

I read Rene McDermotts letter about Warren Watsons declaration as an Independent candidate in the TDB before leaving town last week and shook my head in dismay. When I returned a few days later and saw all the follow up letters in the paper, I just had to chime in as citizen who has to live with the consequences of the actions our elected politicians take.

It seems to me that local politics among Democrats has evolved to be exactly what we are seeing on the national level when confronted with a challenge, the answer seems to be, attack the individual instead of addressing the issue. It is a strategy that attempts to deflect attention away from the real issue. It is a recipe for self-destruction.

I read Warren Watsons decision to register as an Independent as a reflection of the sentiment most Americans are feeling today a low approval and high disapproval rating of our politicians, especially those whose actions seem to be more focused on their personal goals and not those of their constituents. Its clearly a problem in Washington; I just hope it isnt spreading to Polk County. Until politicians in this country internalize the mood of the American Citizens and put those issues ahead of their political aspirations, they will continue to foster a distrust among the citizens.

Maybe Warren is on the right path.&bsp; Maybe we need a strong third party to shake up a system that seems to have lost sight of its original purpose. I know one thing for sure: something has to change, fast!

Don Hofmann