This oped ran in the Sunday April 23, 2006 Harrisburg Patriot News.   I could have written it yesterday.

AS I SEE IT

BY GEORGE KROLOFF

Hello, candidate. I'm available, but I can't find you on Match.com.

You don't have to be a perfect 10. I'd probably settle for an eight.

I'm the politically unattractive guy in the middle who isn't swayed by ideology or any one issue. I just want to make a match with someone who usually thinks like me. Someone who believes the federal government should work like my local "administration." It actually arranges to get the garbage picked up before 10 a.m. every Monday.

Do you agree our national government needs able managers who can prioritize? That we can't do everything at once? If you want us to get together, tell me how you will run the government I am paying for.

Of course, I have issues. Doesn't everyone? Here are some:

The economy. It's good in some places, bad in others. Good if you are in the right place, bad if you aren't. Tell me what you think government can and should do regarding our quality of life. Remember, "can" and "should" are not the same things. What are realistic goals we can agree upon?

Environment, education, and jobs. See economy.

Immigration. Our diversity is an enormous strength and a great gene pool. And there aren't enough Americans willing to fill a lot of jobs. But illegal means illegal. Immigration from Mexico is an economic issue that can't be solved by building a border wall. In a somewhat similar situation, Ronald Reagan told the Soviets, "Tear Down This Wall." Where's the win-win solution?

Elections. Certainly, all politicians are not corrupt. But the system has been corrupted because contributions drive campaigns and then pay for decisions made by winners. How will you fix the broken system?

Abortion and health. Of course, abortion's an important moral issue. But so are other life-and-death issues that involve even more people (such as the millions who die of hunger, wars, and easily prevented diseases). Meanwhile, U.S. health policy is worse than complicated. How will you manage the time and the money available for major health issues? Think simple, but give me context, not sound bites.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Life refers to more than what the abortion sides say. Liberty is much more than freedom of speech and much less than anarchy. Happiness? America seems to be depressed. Too much Viagra, too little Zoloft?

Foreign policy and the Middle East. Worldwide, our ever-changing policies are a mixture of morals (some of which we actually practice), but mostly economic. Oil is not the root of all evil, but we need a root canal to deaden our pain. How can we get along and stop picking fights? Where is the middle ground in all the Mid-east's shifting sand?

Religion. Way too slippery a slope for the government. The Ten Commandments are wonderful, but which ones? The Catholic? The Protestant? The Jewish? They do differ you know. Or maybe you don’t know. We probably agree on the ethics and morality of most of the commandments. But don't tell me how important it is to have them in public squares. Tell me how you will instill the basic concepts into government.

Technology. What should be our government's role when technology is the driving force in the global economy, environment, education, wars, and health; even in religion? As a conversation starter, what would you do about our place in a world where China and India are only two of several powerhouse nations racing to overtake our lead?

Special interests. Every individual, organization, and nation has special interests. I want a manager who can balance the spectrum of issues by openly and honestly discussing varying points of view. Are you brave enough to talk about how you made a decision?

Here's a bonus topic: terror: Why am I so frightened? Can you make me comfortable with a middle ground between terror and caution? I'm needy, a hug or a gun isn't enough.

Can you bring us together? My last political relationship broke up over the use of money, power and not really caring about me. I'd like to find a candidate who wants to build a relationship, not someone who will kiss-up just to get my vote and then abandon me.

Want to meet over a cup of coffee?

GEORGE KROLOFF of East Berlin has held senior positions in the legislative and executive branches of the federal government, and in the private sector. 

Note: Since this was written we moved from East Berlin back to Maryland.