King has responded to this thread far better than I can. I wasn't going to wade in, but the temptation has won out. The good news is that the American middle is alive and well again. The extremes on the right and the left have reminded us all how much we reject what they are trying to pass off. Americans will listen to the candidates and make a reasonable choice in the upcoming elections, and this time, it won't be a response to our fears that have been appealed to.
My brother-in-law just returned from a trip to China. He is the Vermont Secretary of Agriculture and he headed up a group that went over to look at China's agricultural system. He came back talking about new cities, one with a population of over 6 million and it did not exist ten years ago, new highways, bridges, industrial plants, schools, hospitals, very advanced modern farms; the list goes on and on.
We are bogged down fighting the world's wars and it is going to cost us dearly. We need leaders that remember we are part of a larger world community and are not opposed to including the rest of the world in its business. We cannot continue to try to be the "Lone Ranger." It was ridiculous seven years ago, and it is more so now. We also need leaders that do not try to use their skills in parsing our language to deceive us with their intentions.
I am very tired of the partisanship and I believe I am not alone in this. Democrats can defend this country and so can Republicans. Neither party has a monopoly on all the right ideas or choices of action. Where the idea came from that only Republicans can defend this country baffles me. I am pretty sure that our Presidents in WWI and WWII were Democrats. I am sure that both parties are represented in our current Armed Services.
About the only one being convinced by these silly jingoes, tag lines, and bumper stickers is the person using it. The rest of us are not going along for the ride. Don't kid yourself.
Ed Pirie
West Topsham, Vermont
