To the Editor:

Political parties have almost destroyed our country. The greed and self-interest of both political parties have consciously eroded the rights granted to us by God and protected by our Constitution. This document is unique in history and guarantees us that the government cannot infringe on the enumerated rights, yet in their unending thirst for power, the two parties have stripped us of many of our “inalienable rights,” leaving us at the mercy of runaway power grabbing political parties.

Our government and the two major parties have been on a binge of spending the futures of coming generations. They have destroyed the respect of our allies and diminished our ability to defend the country from aggressive adversaries.

If we are to take back the country, we must elect a President that is truly unencumbered by special interests and party pressure. Is it time to let the magic of free markets grow our economy and restore the job growth needed to allow all Americans to prosper as a direct result of their efforts. We have the tools of the greatest economic engine in the history of the world.

Accountability and responsibility must protect the allocation of the taxes collected from working Americans. The 10th Amendment of the Constitution is very specific as to the authority of the federal government, assigning all other activities to the states. Not being a constitutional lawyer, even I can understand what our founders meant. Getting back to that division of powers will not be easy, but we must do just that to maximize the value of taxpayer money.

Shrimp on treadmills do not deliver full value to the taxpayers. 

Several departments in our government need to be completely eliminated, lowering the deficit and helping stop the growth of our debt. 

An effective leader does not consider himself, or herself, the smartest person in the room. They surround themselves with qualified subordinates and then listen to them and let them do their jobs.

Would you support a business, non-party-affiliated, candidate for President?

Bruce Gardner

Waynesville