Four years ago Americans were offered a fresh, new face who offered hope and change. He did not define what the changes might be, but he gave great speeches and promised an open government and to reduce the federal deficit by one-half.
Now, after four years, we see what the changes were. Instead of an open government, bills were passed in the dead of night by congressmen who had not read the bills. The deficit was not reduced and is instead at an all-time high and the U.S. has lost its Triple-A credit rating. More than 12 million Americans are unemployed and a record number are on food stamps. College graduates can not find jobs and are moving back home to their parents. High gasoline prices that have more than doubled from $1.86 a gallon are hurting families and businesses. Apology speeches to Middle Eastern countries have not improved relations and our embassies are under assault in those countries. 
During the Presidential Debate, we found that the President’s speeches are not so great without a teleprompter and the debater who was more presidential was not the President. We also found that the President has no new ideas to improve our economy, but wants another four years of the same. We found that we have one candidate who wants more government and higher taxes versus one who wants lower taxes and less government regulations to allow our free enterprise system to prosper. One who believes that the government creates jobs versus one who believes jobs are created in the private sector. We also have a choice between a candidate who has shut down both off-shore and on-shore oil wells versus one who will open those oil fields and approve the Keystone Pipeline.
It is time for our country to realize that we have endured four years of failed policies, chalk it up as a bad experience, and move on. Under the right leadership, our country will regain its greatness.

Printed in the October 11, 2012