ELECTION: Party perspectives

In a few days we will decide the direction America travels. Everyone wants peace and security, and we are in this together. We are an integrated society, relying on each other for jobs and our way of life.

Republicans, by and large, have changed “we the people” into “us versus them” using fear, lies and name-calling to ramp up anxiety and confusion. (By Republicans, I do not mean the party that honored American promises and supported world-wide democracy; that party died in 2015.) Republicans pass laws making the rich richer and the poor poorer. Truthful journalists are enemies of the people. Republicans use money to judge a person’s worth — for example, no immigration except for the wealthy.

Inciting groups of people to constantly fight each other, while turning our government into a banking enterprise, offers one path to voters. But Democrats, by and large, want all Americans to be part of our life and will protect their individual freedoms of expression.

They seek working agreements with others in the world, not one-sided demands and extortion. The Declaration of Independence guides them to seek life, liberty and happiness for everyone, not just those with money or power. Our country started as a slave nation, but its history reveals a constant move toward all people living in peace and security, protected by law and order.

Vote for money-based practices with never-ending lies and discord, or vote for people-based ethics that bring us together as we travel to a better future, together.

DENNIS REUTER

Coeur d’Alene