With the present attitude of spend, spend, spend in Washington, D.C., it's obvious that something has to change. I believe the change will come from the American people.

I think we need to explain exactly what we are looking for in future candidates. This is my version of a Primer for Future Candidates:

1. We will no longer blindly follow a political party candidate, assuming that they will have the same moral and intellectual views as the American people. You are welcome to belong to a political party if you choose, but do not depend on that as a sure thing to win your election.

2. Everyone makes mistakes in their lifetimes. Get the mistakes out front, so no one is blindsided by the revelations. If you have learned from your mistakes, they won't matter. If they are a way of life for you, stay home. We already have hundreds of those types in office already. That's what we are trying to get rid of.

3. If you are looking at election to a government position as a lifetime appointment, stay home. Term limits are coming, and sooner than most would think.

4. If you are looking at election as a means to get rich, stay home. We don't need or want you. The special-interest groups and lobbyists will be moving out of Washington, D.C. While I realize that this will mean the failure of their entire industry, they weren't providing jobs for Americans anyway. They were just in a co-operative arrangement to enrich themselves, and the people they were "recruiting."

5. If you are a socialist, Marxist or communist, you are welcome to believe as you choose. However, the American people are only interested in a government that is of the people, by the people and for the people. Therefore, it would be a waste of your time and ours to bother running for office. Keep in mind that there are several Third World countries where your beliefs would be accepted (at least for the short term). You are welcome to move to any one of them.

6. We have three distinct branches of American government: legislative, judicial and executive. Each is independent of the others. Please do not attempt to run for office if you believe that these branches should be adjusted from their original concept. They have worked very well for over 200 years. (And, by the way, we will be looking at correcting the problem of the judicial branch trying to rewrite the Constitution.)

7. If you are interested in bringing America into a one-world-order government, stay home. You do not have the best interests of the United States of America in mind. However, as mentioned previously, there are many Third World countries where you would be temporarily welcome.

8. If you are interested in reversing the perks that have corrupted Capitol Hill, then please announce your candidacy.

9. If you are interested in restoring states' rights and states' sovereignty, please announce your candidacy.

10. If you have read, understand and are willing to live by and fight for our U.S. Constitution, please announce your candidacy.

11. If you want campaigns to be a reasonable amount of time and money spent, please make suggestions and announce your candidacy (e.g., public campaign monies ONLY, short and sweet; town-hall meetings in your own districts; one paid infomercial with OPEN questioning, etc.). With new campaign rules being followed, we could find many qualified candidates for public office. The reason so many good people can't run is because the BUSINESS of campaigning has removed it from affordability for the American people.

12. If you want government to get out of private business affairs, please announce your candidacy.

13. If you believe in individual freedom, and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, please announce your candidacy.

Remember: All that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph is for enough good men to do nothing.

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Marcia Walton lives in Lake Placid.