With the presidential election only a few weeks away, it’s still far too close to call as to who is the front-runner. Tuesday night’s debate probably made the race even closer.
We hope voters make their final decision based on careful thought and not just the spin coming from both sides. There are in fact two very different and opposing views as to how to move the country to firmer economic and international positions.
Few, if any, Americans are satisfied with our economy. After the recent events in Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East, many are now paying more attention to how we deal with other members of the international community, particularly those who oppose American interests and ideas.
Watching the latest presidential debate, we saw two men who each firmly believe that his way is the right way. We also saw those two men almost get down to the level of a playground with charges, countercharges and intransigence from both sides.
Of course, that will only promote more and more stalemate after the election is over, no matter which candidate or party wins in the race for the White House and both houses of Congress. Perhaps it is time to consider which presidential candidate will best be suited to find room for compromise over the next four years based on the needs of all Americans.
To improve America, compromise will be needed. So a major decision by voters should be to decide who best can achieve that through effective leadership based on past performance, experience, careful reasoning and pragmatic ideas — not just ideology.
While ideology may be all right in a rhetorical debate, what really counts for all Americans is what is achieved legislatively and in the execution of all the laws governing our country.
We encourage our readers to set aside the talking points and consider which candidates at all levels can effectively govern our country, not just talk about governing.
Opinion
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Discussion
Our View: Round two
- Opinion
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Our View: Finding the way forward
Communication failures and the lack of a clear mission have given rise to turmoil and discord at Missouri Southern State University. The antidote to this is openness, frankness and the articulation of a well-defined purpose as the school moves forward.
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Your View: Finding audience for Bard
It was interesting to see Globe columnist Mike Pound’s recollection of college studies of the Bard of Avon in association with the upcoming production of “Macbeth.”
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Your View: Shifting opinions
I have a suggestion for a Joplin Globe feature. Reprint all the letters and columns from years past that were in favor of the Patriot Act and how people who showed any concern over it “wanted the terrorists to win.”
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James Whitford, guest columnist: New definition needed
I remember meeting a man on the main road through Fond Parisien, a small community on the eastern side of Haiti.
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Our View: Connecting the town
Well before the 2011 tornado, Joplin had a problem with “connectivity.” That’s right. The flow of traffic — whether it be cars, pedestrians or bicyclists — has been a sore spot with us for years.
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Your View: Bold leadership needed
Dear City Council Members, Let me first thank you for your service to our community.
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Other Views: Debt of honor
In Afghanistan, the Taliban have promised to kill Afghans who worked for the Americans and their families. In Iraq, similar threats were made by radical Islamic insurgents.
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Herb Van Fleet, guest columnist: Big Brother is always watching and listening
Sen. Church made that statement 38 years ago. He chaired a committee that was formed to develop legislation to rein in the CIA, FBI, NSA and other intelligence agencies, which had been operating outside the bounds of the law, including the Constitution.
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Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Jury still out on whistle-blower’s actions
Whether you see Edward Snowden as a hero, a traitor or something in between, there is no denying that the admitted “leaker” has opened up an industrial-size can of National Security Agency worms.
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Trish Patton, guest columnist: Downtown group needs stakeholders' support
On Tuesday the Downtown Joplin Alliance (DJA) tabled the Community Improvement District (CID) initiative.
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