Change must be for better

I have noticed that both presidential candidates have espoused “change.” I also paid careful attention to the speakers at the conventions that elevated them to their respective candidacies. So, based on that, I have concluded what the most likely changes are that each candidate would like to bring to America if he were elected president. I am listing 10 for each.

One seems to prefer these:

— Dismantle public education.

— Mortgage our government into eventual bankruptcy.

— Dismantle Social Security.

— Make health care a luxury, available to all who can afford it.

— Divide Americans by class, ethnicity and religion.

— Make the Constitution optional for our commander in chief.

— Make bullying foreign countries, including our friends, our foreign policy.

— Move away from the market economy by encouraging private monopolies.

— Shift more of the tax burden to those who live paycheck to paycheck.

— Replace patriotism with simple jingoism.

The other candidate seems to prefer the following:

— Improve public education.

— Put Social Security on a sound footing.

— Make health care available to all, and have all contribute to making it so.

— Unite Americans a-round basic shared values.

— Make the Constitution pivotal for all actions of our president.

— Work closely with our allies and make our enemies know our strength quietly.

— Protect the market economy by insisting on fair-play regulation.

— Put the highest tax burden on the people who can afford it the most.

l Encourage us to understand that patriotism may include shared sacrifices.

I hope that we all have enough wisdom to understand which “change” is which, and then vote accordingly in November.

Henry F. Weinschenk
Albemarle County