Desert Dweller

Do we really want change?

People often complain that
there are no good candidates.

Why aren’t there more good candidates?

What have we done to earn the right to complain?

What responsibilities do we have as citizens?

Do we have a duty to vote in elections?

Do we have a duty to be informed voters,
choosing platforms, not personalities?

Do we have a duty to participate at all?

Are we culpable?
Do we really want change?

Much credit is given to the elected.
Presidents, congressmen and senators
don’t elect themselves.

We (the thirty percent of us who vote)
elect them.

Once in power,
they don’t work in a vacuum;
millions of us support them
moving forward their agendas.

Someone’s daughter stamps papers of foreclosure.
Soldiers fire guns and drop bombs.

Someone’s father ignores warnings of oil leaks.
Lawmakers vote on bills.

Officials deny or approve permits.
Accountants work the numbers.

Judges rule on cases.

Whether we agree with them or not,
the elected work hard and make sacrifices
to achieve positions of power.

Whether we like them or not,
they do their best to get things done.

What responsibilities do we have as citizens?

Do we have a duty to attend city council meetings?

Do we have a duty to work
on commissions and task forces?

Or is it our duty to whine and complain?

Are we complicit?
Do we really want change?

Real change begins when we stop blaming.
Real change begins when we take action.

© 2026 Bruno Talerico
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Image created with AI.