When President Barrack Obama, in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, said that he believes the private sector is the lifeblood of the economy, and that red tape needs to be cut, Congress expressed their appreciation for his words with applause.  It felt like a window had been opened.  Frankly, after months of televised debates by Republican Presidential candidates, it was hard to believe a Democrat had just said those words.   
While much can be debated about the many points made in the hour-long speech, one thing all people should be able to get behind is Obama’s assertion that our political system needs to be changed at its core to make voting easier, not harder, and ensure that representation better reflects the people being served.  
With elections at the forefront of the people’s attention, both with considerations on how to rewrite election ordinances locally and with choices looming concerning our nation’s leadership, it’s important to consider now what kind of political system we want to have.  
Hopefully, after so many years of gridlock, we’re ready to begin compromising and agreeing on a few simple problems we face, even if we don’t agree on how to solve them.  Recently, when Republican Senator Jerry Moran stopped to visit with constituents at Larned, he expressed his frustration with that gridlock the Republican party has caused in Washington, and is not even taking pains to deny.  There are politicians who want to get things working again.  
The president reminded us that America is still a strong country that we can feel proud about, and that people here are essentially good at heart.   
Die-hard anti-Obamists might have found tweets by Donald Trump more amusing, along with the plethora of cable television offerings.  One can only hope that people who have that little regard for the country are also those who choose not to take the time to vote in elections.  
For the rest of the country’s registered voters, the ball was put in our court.  
“Changes in political process will happen when American people demand it,” he said.  “It is easier to be cynical, and to accept change is not possible, and politics is hopeless.  But if we give up now, we forsake a better future, and those with money and power will gain more power.”