I am not a big promoter of a lot of new legislation. When I was in Albany, I came of the view that, too often, legislators put in new bills when solutions to problems could often be settled by laws that are already on the books.

I am beginning to think; however, that in Washington we need some type of limits imposed on the use of Twitter and other social media as a communications tool for government officials. It is a policy that is needed for Republicans and Democrats, for leaders in government including the President.

The public needs an understandable process when it comes to the proposing of substantive ideas to the citizens of the United States. The military and intelligence community need a way for major ideas on war and diplomacy to be implemented which safeguard our national interests, and ensure protection when sensitive and classified matters are being discussed. Such statements need to vetted and thought out before government officials push the “send” button and start or stop a major policy without considering its broader implications.

I don’t think it can be done in this election cycle because it will become instantly partisan and accusations will be that it is strictly an anti-Trump thing. Others will say that it would be a violation of our civil right which opposes limiting free speech. However, I would hope that, let’s say in five years, we can agree to a policy where major public utterances, especially those on national security or matters affecting relations between countries, will need to have at least a waiting period before they can be blasted out over the airwaves.

Social media helps politicians connect simultaneously with thousands of people. The problem is that a lot of it is “one-way” communication and those on the receiving end may well believe that what they are receiving is true, because it has been sent by an elected leader. Social media has also become the source for a lot of non-truth telling, now called “fake news.”

The temptation is strong in politics to “tweet” because, especially with the stature of the Presidency, it virtually guarantees millions of followers. However, on the other side of coin, the need to properly evaluate and promulgate public policy, gets lost in the shuffle. The Presidency is more than a person, it is the Executive Department of the federal government.

I remember when Barack Obama had to be counseled on how not to use his cell phone. There was a concern that if someone improperly intercepted his calls, it could compromise national security. (That is back when cell phones were more the “new thing.”) I guess what I am arguing for is that there needs to be a similar “rein-in” when it comes to the daily and almost hourly use of “tweeting.” There need to be rules and parameters established that govern not only government employees, but our major elected officials as well.

The people of the United States are able to digest serious matters, but they need assurance that the public policies that affect them have received serious deliberation before they are communicated. “Tweeting” storms are not the way to do it. A change is needed.

Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident.