Debbie Metz, age 11, of Worcester, Pennsylvania, for his question:

How did the word "politics" originate?

The word "politics" dates back to the ancient Greeks who had such noble ideas about civilized government. It is derived from Greek words meaning the citizens, their state and the things that rightfully belong to them. Though we use "politics" as either a singular or a plural word, its basic meaning has not changed from what the noble minded Greeks intended it to be. Basically it is the skills, the art and the science of government. In its proper sense, politics includes the highest judgment and the most unselfish wisdom of which mankind is capable. Every citizen senses these virtues as necessary to make government of the people workable.

Very often you hear people use the word "politics" with overtones of anger and distrust. This is not because the word has lost its true meaning, but rather because of human nature. Political office brings power and power attracts rascals bent on misusing it to suit themselves. Twisted politics of this sort indeed deserves our distrust. But remember, in our system of democracy the citizens elect their politicians. When "politics" loses its true and noble meaning, voters have failed to use their honest good sense by electing less than the very best men and women to repre¬sent them.