In favor of moderate, open–minded candidates

To the editor:

I think America is the greatest country the world has ever seen, because it was founded on the principles of individual rights and freedom for all. We have led the world toward achieving those goals, but it seems we’ve been sidetracked somewhere along the way. I feel sorry for President Barack Obama who inherited two different wars and an economy on the brink of failure when he came into office. In addition, he has had to deal with unreasonable partisan politicians who actually shut the government down for a time.

In spite of all the opposition, including a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows unlimited funding for political campaigns, he has managed to establish a system of universal health care, and has also made progress toward alleviating racial discrimination and gender bias, as well as working toward fair immigration proposals and minimum wage increases — thanks to the use of executive orders.

My vote in the upcoming election will be for moderate, open-minded candidates who are not driven by religious ideology or traditional ways of thinking. We have enough of that to deal with in the Middle East.

Art Carney

Wasilla