LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Candidates need to address country's major problems

After months and months of political campaigning, we are in the final days before the general election. During those months we have heard millions of words about why we should vote for one candidate over another.

I find it odd that they failed to mention even one word about any of the following problems, which have plagued this country.

What you do come Election Day based on what they have or have not said is your decision.

1. Our huge National Debt of which over $5 trillion is shown as intragovernmental debt. This is debt we owe ourselves. How is this possible?

It comes from those many trust funds, Social Security included, which continue to be raided by our elected officials in the United States Congress.

2. The high cost of prescription drugs. Once again we have an issue which has been given lip service by those in Congress. To my knowledge, not one time has the point of patent extensions been “laid on the table.” A quick glance at this subject on the Internet reveals a great deal of “coziness” with the drug manufacturers.

Kin to this subject is what the politicians call “Universal Health Care.” What do they really mean by this? They have never put it down in black and white. Could it be that they want us to believe that someone out there in never-never land will pick up the tab? Don’t go down that path folks. It can only lead to more shenanigans behind closed doors.

3. The huge loss of American first class jobs. A quick walk through one of our major retail stores will attest to the growing importation of literally thousands of commodities, of which most once carried the “Made in USA” label. There are any number of reasons for this, but not one time has the subject of high labor costs and the minimum wage been addressed as the culprits. And we continue to wonder about where all those jobs have gone and why.

4. A failed immigration problem that continues to plague our elected officials. It was a source of much-to-do 40 years ago. Didn’t anybody notice? I did, as it was pointed out to me in very severe words way back in the ’70s.

5. The fallen value of our dollar. Think for a moment what this does to the interest we pay on that enormous debt mentioned above, much of it to China.

6. The almost 100 percent loss of our Merchant Marine Fleet, once the envy of all who sailed the seven seas. One might also include here the loss of shipbuilding.

It is important that we look past the “blue sky promises for change” and face reality. Unless we do, our children, and their children, will grow up in a country no longer identified as the Republic of the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. There is much blame to go around. We should not waste our time pointing fingers at each other but to the one point where it really lies — the United States Congress and the administrations of both political parties.

Gene Deragon
Lamar