In today’s Herald Tribune Gail Collins writes: ‘Meanwhile, Scott McAdams, the Democratic candidate, is introducing himself to the voters. This will take some time because McAdams’s big claim to fame is being mayor of Sitka, a town of 8,700 with no road access.
“I’m a big guy from a small town,” he told a group at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center.
“Will you have the courage to tell us what we don’t want to hear?” demanded a man with a long, gray beard.
This sounded like a trick question. Obviously, the bearded man wanted to hear, “yes.” Did that mean McAdams should be brave and say “no”? McAdams said that he would definitely have the courage to say no to lobbyists.’

Interesting question: do you have the courage to tell us what we don’t want to hear?

Everybody should ask his or her significant other frequently: "Could you tell me a few things I don't like to hear?"

One thing is for sure, if we want to hear things we don’t like we cannot count on politicians only.