Recent letters in local news sources have praised the abilities of our local politicians.

My judgment is that not one of Lake County's elected representatives – either county, state or national – can claim any significant long-term benefit of their efforts.

Political leaders must be judged by and on their impact not activity. Activity or appearances (visibility) does not equal impact.

Rep. Mike Thompson has the most notable failure as head of the House income tax reform committee.

Locally, our entire county Board of Supervisors has failed in disaster planning.

Local government primary responsibility in planning for major disasters must include forming and training neighborhood resident self-help disaster teams – trained teams of residents that can provide medical first aid, other needed assistance, rescue and evacuation in and for their own neighborhoods with no outside assistance in the initial 72 hours.

Low voter turnout means the same people elect the same incompetent politicians and then they write letters of praise for those elected.

Low voter turnout has resulted to poor local, state and national government. I submit that WE are the problem! The solution is to VOTE!

John Daniels lives in Lakeport, Calif.