To the editor:

Are you happy with how things are going in Rhode Island? I haven’t come across anyone who is. And why should we be?

For decades, Rhode Island has had one of the worst economies in the nation.

Our roads and bridges are among the country’s least well-maintained.

Education costs keep rising while student performance keeps sinking.

State services are slow, inefficient and costly, in large part because our computer systems are outdated and poorly set up.

Our college grads have to leave the state for jobs, and our seniors can’t afford to retire here.

The list of Rhode Island’s serious problems is longer than there is room for here.

For at least half a century, Rhode Island has had the same party in power. Today, out of the state’s 113 legislators, 99 are from the same party. With such complete political control, why is Rhode Island a chronic basket case? Could it be because we keep handing the baton to the same political party? Could it be that we desperately need “independent” thinking?

Unlike the majority party candidate, independent candidate for governor Ken Block has the ideal background and has shown the get-it-done attitude to finally improve the quality of life for Rhode Islanders.

He has helped a big state eliminate waste and fraud in its social service programs, saving taxpayers over $1 billion. He founded a successful software company that managed large-scale government systems in multiple states. Ken is the owner of a small business, an expert in data analytics and has experience in delivering fraud-prevention technology. Ken is a proven doer, not a politically driven talker and promiser.

The same old, same old isn’t working. Come on, Rhode Islanders. Let’s summon the courage to finally vote outside the same old box.

C. W. Welch

Portsmouth