I don’t consider myself the “letter to the editor type” but the current political situation has driven me to speak out.

If I could exist as a conservative independent and simply vote for the most qualified candidate, I would be very satisfied. However, the policies and actions of the Democrats over the past few years have pushed me to the Republican side.

Politics has become a zero-sum game — if one side wins, the other side loses. Often, both sides seem to forget that the real winners should be the people they represent.

What has me stirred up is the incredible opposition to and dislike of Trump. I have seen it on the faces of friends when Trump is discussed or appears on TV, regardless of what the message or subject might be.

These are good friends, reasonable people who I guess have been indoctrinated by the deluge of negative press that has been dumped on a duly-elected president for nearly four years. I simply avoid talking politics with them.

I agree that Trump is abrasive, but he has accomplished much of what he promised and is willing to stand up to anyone when defending American interests. He puts our individual freedom and America first, and I find that refreshing.

So there are voters who will vote for Biden because they can’t stand Trump. I would only offer this thought — a vote against someone is still a vote, just for something else.

This election, that something else is unmistakably an opening for socialism to creep into our lives. I can’t vote for that!! Can you?

Gary Neyman,

Summit Township