What are the top one or two issues that will affect my vote? If you mean what makes me cry hardest, scream loudest and gives me the most sleepless nights, that would have to be climate change. Because climate change deniers refuse to see the melting of Arctic ice and the warming of oceans as precursors to catastrophe, humanity (and plant and animal life) will end much sooner than anyone wants to believe.
Because climate change affects the whole world, I believe that it takes precedence over my second most important issue: health insurance for all in America.
Let’s elect people who are dedicated to saving our planet. If we do not, there will be no people left to insure.
Susan Thaler
West Haven, Conn.
To the Editor:
Campaign finance reform is the most important, and most overarching, issue. Our government, at nearly every level, unabashedly serves the interests of corporations and the wealthiest donors, rather than the interests of voters. We will never solve issues like global warming, poverty, education and access to affordable health care as long as our Congress is owned and operated by the highest bidders.
Steve Varnum
Manchester, N.H.
To the Editor:
This is one of the most important elections in our nation’s history. It isn’t about issues. It isn’t about political parties. It isn’t about abortion, global warming, monetary policy, immigration or trade. It is about values, character and how we think about things, both as a society and as individuals. Shall we embrace hatred, fear, insularity and incivility, or shall we embrace the challenge of attempting to make our society and ourselves better? That is the real question this election poses, in every contest in every precinct, parish, city, village and state.
