J Mel, a retired trial lawyer and concerned citizen, turned creative writer, is the creator of this podcast focusing on the relationship between “politics,” and “governance,” inour democracy. He proposes that our democracy failed because we allowed “politics,” the process of gaining and maintaining power, a highly dynamic and contentious process, to sterilize the “governance” function and leave our democracy vulnerable to destruction from within. Stated bluntly, the balance between “politics” and “governance” is out of wack! J Mel believes that our country does not have an enlightened citizenry; that an enlightened citizenry is essential for self-governance, as Thomas Jefferson said; and that our lack of an enlightened citizenry is a root cause of the failure of our democracy.

Politics is an unavoidable evil which the podcast will explore through episodes on campaign reform, term limits, transparency, and citizen involvement. J Mel will strive for factual integrity, intellectual honesty, and candid interviews with ordinary citizens and those with special knowledge and experiences. Your active participation isencouraged. Respectfully submitted, J Mel.