Dear Editor,

I believe this election is the most important one in my lifetime! Most of us believe our only choice is between two deeply flawed individuals, and realistically, we know one of them will be our next president. The media has made this a campaign based on character. I ask you to consider, not the character of the candidates (I cannot defend the actions of either), but the very basis of our country. Individual people have come and gone in this high office, and we have survived some deeply flawed ones, but we are on the brink of changing the course of our country.

The American Dream has always been based on freedom to make ones way in the world and exercise our right to choose our path. Many servicemen and women have lost their lives defending those freedoms. Our government has decided they are the ones to create jobs, placing regulations on businesses which have stifled job growth in the private sector and decreased our country’s economic growth. They have trapped huge numbers of people in dependency on welfare, and in general, decided they know what is best and taken on the responsibility of making decisions for all of us. I do believe we are on the brink of losing the American Dream.

We have a clear-cut choice between socialism and free market economy. The dictionary definition of socialism is, “A political and economic theory advocating collective ownership of the means of production and control of distribution.” While it sounds good to distribute wealth evenly, it has brought down every country that has tried it, destroying jobs and stifling economic growth, leaving the poor much poorer. We would all agree the path taken in the last several years has left our country poorer and less respected than any time in my lifetime. It is very true that if we don’t learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. I will vote for free market economy over socialism any time. It is what has built our country.

Your vote does matter. When I go to the polls, my vote will not be “Against” the candidate I dislike most, but “For” the future of our country. I ask you to join me!

Peggy Adams