We're lucky to have Obama as president
We voted for Barack Obama because of his desire to break down walls that divide American citizens from each other and from other countries and cultures.
He also wants to address the growing gap between the wealthy and the poor. He wants to give citizens the freedom of choice to govern their lives as they see fit. He wants to shrink the deficit and bring fiscal responsibility to government. He wants to get us out of our involvement with the governance of Iraq and focus our military/intelligence on efforts to neutralize those who cannot be persuaded that America wants peace and prosperity for our world.
There are also issues with global warming, energy independence, reduction of gun-related violence and health care reform that his programs resonated positively with me.
Each of these issues alone are challenges and subject to a wide spectrum of views among the citizens of our great country.
We are lucky that our president is blessed with not only extremely high intelligence, but also the ability to communicate his ideas clearly using the capacity of the media to its fullest.
I'm hopeful that these will carry the day in the debates during the coming months and that eventually those with differing views will come to see that we are headed in the right direction, not only in our country but as responsible world citizens.
We have a president who is not only talented, but is also a good, compassionate person whose main concern in life is public service to make the world a better place for us and particularly our children and grandchildren.
This goodness and demonstrated willingness to listen to all views merits my trust that his decisions are sound and worthwhile. Because of the urgency of some situations and the nature of the political beast, I'm sure that reasonable compromises will be required at the start of real-life programs that may not achieve the totality of desired results.
However, it will be the start of a process which will continue as we evolve into a more patient, trusting and better nation.
John McDonald
Libertyville