Sharing the pain

This is the first time I am writing in response to a column in the paper. Never before has a piece resonated with me as much as the recent column by Ed Murnane. First, a very big "Thank You" for running this column. I grew up in a household that impressed upon all the importance of voting in every election. My parents taught me many years ago to be informed on the issue and to vote for the candidate that I felt would be a good leader as well as followed the majority of my beliefs. My father was a staunch Republican and my mother just as committed to the Democratic Party. There were always lively debates around election time and yet everyone was allowed to voice their opinions as long as they really listened to another perspective.

Like Ed, my conscience would not allow me to vote for Mr. Trump or Ms. Clinton in the last election. I felt neither would be good for the economy or for the country. I did vote, but for a third-party candidate.

It is not only a right, but an obligation to vote. Once again I hear people saying they will vote for "the best of the worst" and I am horrified that the country is in this position. I am disappointed when I ask people why they will vote the way they claim, only to find no real basis other than one candidate is "less bad" than the other.

How did such a proud country get to this level? How have we as citizens allowed this to happen? Thank you, Ed Murnane, for letting me know there are others who feel the same way.

Peggy Sikora

Elgin