Letter: The Problem or the Solution

The other day, I was complaining to my best friend Tom about the state of our political affairs in this country. I told him I was disappointed that the politics of division had made a big comeback – even in our local elections. Tom is a lifelong Republican and I’m a registered Democrat. He said “Sandy, you told me 30 years ago that I shouldn’t think in terms of political parties. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution”.

I take those words to heart, and apparently so did Tom and we remained the best of friends for 40 years. It is all too easy to fall into the politics of division that is crippling our country from Washington, DC to here at home in River Edge. 

Next Tuesday is Election Day. Some political campaigns this year have been bitter, nasty and downright polarizing. We have seen campaigns that attack the motives of an entire political party, setting up straw men and scapegoats, and engaging in intellectually lazy arguments. Some politicians want to maintain power by using a “divide and conquer” political strategy. People are fed up. Nothing gets accomplished.

I’ve done my best to stick to issues and not personalities. My message is simple. Let’s stop pitting one group against another. We are all neighbors. It is time to work together on common-sense reforms. The problem is those that seek to divide us for the sake of party politics. Vote for the best candidate. Vote for the candidate that is part of the solution and not part of the problem.

The solution can begin on Tuesday, November 8. Let River Edge set an example for the rest of America. 

Councilman Sandy Moscaritolo

River Edge