America: divided against itself

There was a time when we were "One nation, under God, indivisible"; a time in our recent history when we relied on God and were indeed indivisible. We may have differed in our opinions but we respected one another.

That certainly is not the case today. Our major political parties have lowered themselves to wallow in the mud. Can you imagine Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton rising from sleep and beginning their day by giving thanks to God for watching over them during the night and asking for guidance during the coming day? Not one chance in a million.

If Donald prayed it might go like this: "Thank You Lord for making me great, so much better and so much smarter than those around me."

Hillary would begin: "Thank you Lord for all I have received from foreign nations and special interests and thank you for protecting me from prosecution."

Too few of us ask God to guide us to better political candidates. Both of our two major political parties have nominated presidential candidates who seem to be morally bankrupt.

I wish there was a way to set Donald's and Hillary's candidacies aside and let the vice presidential candidates run for president. They are both better qualified and seem to be morally superior when compared to the two chosen nominees.

The average middle-class worker has the right to be angry with our government and multinational corporations. Time was when CEOs of large organizations were paid a reasonable salary and legitimate bonuses. The workers were respected and assured of some stability in their lives. Each party needed the other and by working together our towns and nation prospered.

That is no longer the case. Wall Street is doing fine but middle class America is struggling and hard pressed to keep up with inflation. Corporate America, however, did not hide what they were doing. During the last two decades of the 20th century, public apathy allowed corporations to offshore their industries to Asia.

During those decades the public could have checked manufactured assemblies and wares for "Made in America" labels, but didn't. American warehouses were being filled with foreign products and too few people voiced their objection to the practice. Now, when you shop, it is increasingly hard to find American products.

Polls vary with time; but, those taken over the last six years reveal that more than 60 percent of the electorate believes the nation is headed in the wrong direction. This can't continue! "Every Kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." Mathew 12:25.

This is certainly not the year to sit out the election. If Trump's cavalier personality offends you and you can't vote for him, then for Heaven's sake, don't forget to vote for congressmen who will vote against Hillary's liberal court appointees.

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Leonard Brant is a resident of Post Falls