I am 81 years old and I fear that I have lived through the best years of this country. The vitriolic divide between the Republicans and Democrats is tearing this country apart and will continue to do so without a major change to our governmental structure.

There are just two actions that can alter the disastrous course on which we find ourselves: a third major political party or term limits. A third party would be a very long time coming and both parties would do everything in their collective power to prevent such an occurrence. That leaves us with term limits.

The majority of the country is opposed to the power that lobbyists exercise over this country. How did they reach this position of control? Simple. They became a significant financial asset to the long-term members of Congress who, as a result of longevity, have garnered significant influence within the government. The primary objective of most elected members of Congress is re-election. If there were some way that we could incorporate term limits into our congressional structure, our elected officials might actually put the country first.

Bob Welgos, Wharton

It’s time to upgrade Newark’s airport

Terminals A, B and C at Newark Liberty International Airport are in dire need of replacement to accommodate the increase in record-breaking passenger volume. I have flown in and out of each terminal, and in each one there is a shortage of restrooms. When passengers deplane, they head to the restrooms, which quickly get congested. I don’t think the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey would approve adding at least three more restrooms in each lane of gate locations, especially in Terminal C, which has the largest volume of passengers.

I fly into San Diego at least twice a year, and prior to the remodeling of their terminals, you never had to search for a restroom and the airport is considerably smaller than Newark’s airport.

Additional restrooms have been included in the planning even though sufficient facilities were available.

Thomas A. Kujawski, Parlin

Morris County park plan an insult

I am writing in opposition to the Morris County Parks Commission’s Draft Mahlon Dickerson Reservation Forest Assessment and Stewardship Plan. This is a deal to use our common lands entrusted for the public for economic stimulus to certain contractors, not in any way benefiting the state or county agencies.

This is a direct affront and insult to the perceived “green” initiatives and awareness of the crisis man has created through his economic endeavor to turn nature into capital in an economy to nowhere. The fact that a “private” — not a state or government — workforce is involved says much. Using machines of over­scaled necessity, rather than human labor and minimum impact under this arrangements, says it all. The repeated mistakes of tree poaching or the taking of trees not earmarked by criteria, as occurred on Sparta Mountain, showed a theft of convenience by the contractor because the incentive is lumber sales, not forest management.

Sparta Mountain is a disaster. Will Mahlon Dickerson be as well? Speak up defend our remaining public forest from private deals and further unneeded intrusions. New Jersey: Love it or leave it alone.

Nick Homyak, Lake Hiawatha

Have respect for the meat you eat

In his recent column “New study is red meat for us carnivores” (Oct. 31), Paul Mulshine gleefully informs us that a recent study proves there is no health-related reason for people to not eat as much red meat as they want. He also states, “The real objective of many of the people who push vegetarianism on us is based not on nutrition but on other factors.” And he is right about that.

One thing that avid carnivores never consider — because they have been conditioned not to by the meat industry — is that the tasty chunk of meat you are indulging in came from a living creature that felt emotion, fear and pain when it died for you. The least you could do is show some respect for that, instead of hiding behind the rationalization of “that is what they are raised for.”

Ed Miller, Hillsborough