Political parties should advance freedom

The two-party system is not working as it should. Not because either party is all wrong or all right, but because many politicians are more concerned about keeping their high-paying jobs and staying in control than compromising and working for the people. And that means all the people, not just those who align with a party philosophy.

Government restrictions of individual rights such as restricting who a person is allowed to love and marry, denying a parent's and teacher's right to determine how a child should be taught and what books should be allowed, denying a child's right to choose sexual identity with parental approval and denying a person's right to practice contraception or have a safe and legal abortion is not freedom. And freedom for all the people is a founding principal of this country.

Restricting a person's rights based on religious principles is also a violation of separation of church and state as defined in Amendment 1 to the U.S. Constitution.

As long as the Republicans continue to push for restricting individual rights, my rights, I will vote for another party.

Ronald Scherer

Antioch