To the editor:
Democrats and Republicans are not enemies to each other or to us. Fear, hate and distrust are the real enemies. Americans have always had disagreements about how to handle issues and problems, just like an ordinary family. We hash it out, make some compromises and decisions and move on to the future.
Americans do not hate each other because of those compromises and decisions. They pick up the pieces and try to craft alternatives. Neither party has brought destruction to the country when in power. Over the years, the Democrats have been the force for needed changes, and the Republicans have been the brakes to keep those changes tolerable. Together, they have kept us near the middle of the road.
A small segment of Americans are dissatisfied with that historic process and have found a charismatic spokesman to torpedo that dynamic balance and turn us against each other. He has collected a few more supporters, thankfully still not a majority. Democrats, Moderate Republicans and Independents need to band together and put this distortion back into the cave where it belongs.
America is already Great and has been for centuries. We are still enjoying the economic boom and full employment that began under President Barrack Obama. Our current president tries to take credit for that and pit us against each other with his hateful, finger-pointing rhetoric.
All of us — Democrats and Republicans alike — deserve better than that. The Republicans need to field a decent candidate for us to consider, not the vulgar, ignorant clown that has intimidated his way onto the stage. Republicans need to show us that they stand for integrity and truthfulness.
Donald A. Smith
Franklin
