Election choices

Each election cycle, small cadres of those involved in the political process write these impassioned letters to the editor in an effort to sway voters to support their preferred candidates.

Often they speak in sweeping generalities about why their candidate is best. If there’s a word limit, how can we express a detailed, nuanced account of our candidate’s positions in 250 or 300 words or less?

Yet opponents often attack the generalities as unsupported talking points of one party or the other, dismissing the letter writer’s heartfelt beliefs. What to do?

Since many voters seem determined to vote solely on whether the candidate has an R or D by their name (which, I’m sorry, reflects a frightening lack of intellectual curiosity), no matter what we say, our opponents ignore our arguments based on their differing interpretation of the “facts.”

Nevertheless, not being one to be deterred by the status quo, here’s why I’m voting for John Lewis for U.S. House and Amanda Curtis for U.S. Senate — because I know they, as opposed to their Republican opponents, will:

• Ensure our public lands remain open to all.

• Allow women to make their own healthcare decisions.

• Protect Medicare and Social Security.

• Provide affordable, quality education.

• Keep our promises to our veterans.

If you have an open mind and are willing to consider anything not spouted by your party of choice, you might consider looking into the validity of these claims. Our future depends on it. No pressure.

Gil Jordan

Coram