DEAR EDITOR:

If you watch television or read the newspaper on a regular basis, you are witnessing a struggle for the soul of America. This political battle is between those who believe ownership and production of goods and services should be distributed by the state or central government and those who believe individuals are responsible for their own well-being.

Socialism, in my opinion, is the same form of government as fascism or communism. Some progressive politicians, mostly Democrats, want the federal government to take care of you. They promise free college tuition, free health care, free everything. To pay for all of this free stuff they will tax you until they have exhausted all your money. Once they take all your money, they will spend until they run out of it. If you think the country cannot go broke like Venezuela, think again. Remember, the bigger government grows, the more your freedom contracts.

Conversely, I believe Americans are uniquely different. Capitalism is opposite of socialism and is based on the concept of private ownership. At its core is the concept that each individual, not the state, is responsible for his own soul and spiritual state which enables him to stand up for the right to be called American. This is called religion. Because of this, the original colonists, such as the Puritans, started a new society, far different from what they had in Europe. In this new society each individual, in the pursuit of happiness, can fulfill his or her own destiny. This is called the American dream.

The seeds of Capitalism were sown at a settlement called Plymouth in 1620. It began as a socialist society. After about two years, some pilgrims, formerly known as Puritans, were not contributing to the welfare of the rest of the settlement. As a result, it was decided to abandon the socialistic system. Instead, each family was given a plot of land and told to take care of themselves. In order not to starve, they were told to learn how to plant their own garden and how to hunt for wild game. In order not to freeze in the middle of the winter, they were told to chop their own wood. As part of their spiritual beliefs, it was preached that hard work never hurt anyone, that such sacrifice was a good theory and if you didn’t work, you didn’t eat.

In retrospect, as to progressive politicians who think that this country is so terrible and should be governed based on the European model of government, why is everyone trying to get in? I don’t see anyone scaling a border fence to escape into Mexico.

STEVE YOVICH

Howland