You have seen and heard the candidates running for president. After a year or more of listening to all the rhetoric it is time to make a decision. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, you should weigh the issues carefully because there is a clear distinction between the two candidates and their stand on the various issues.

These issues will affect every aspect of your life and that of your children and your children̓s children for generations to come. Your vote will decide the future course of our country and what it will be like 20 to 30 years from now.

Simply put, if you are for less government with more individual freedom, vote for Mitt Romney.

If you are for the right to keep and bear arms and want to protect the Second Amendment, vote for Romney.

If you are for right to life and against the killing of unborn babies, vote for Romney.

If you are for tax cuts and against tax and spend proponents, vote for Romney.

If you believe in the free enterprise system with individual initiative and if you are opposed to socialism, vote Romney.

If you believe that poor and minority children should be able to go to a school of their choice, vote Romney.

If you believe that local school boards should run local schools and not be run by federal judges, the U.S. Justice Department and teachers’ union leaders, vote Romney.

If you believe Supreme Court justices should interpret the constitution and not usurp the authority of the Legislature to make laws or change laws, vote Romney.

If you believe in a strong national defense, a strong military force with well-paid and well treated personnel, vote Romney.

If you believe in sound environmental policies based on science and not on demagogic politicians, vote Romney.

If you believe that Medicare and Social Security programs for elderly people should be administered on a sound fiscal basis without the hype, propaganda and scare tactics designed to confuse or frighten senior citizens by liberal politicians, vote for Romney.

Not every issue listed above may be important to you but there are some issues that apply in every case and those include character, integrity, truthfulness and leadership. Romney ranks high on the totem pole in all four categories.

He has demonstrated his ability to lead, to bring people together and just maybe he can break the gridlock that has plagued Washington politics for decades.

He will put an end to class warfare that divides and embitters our people, causes friction and frustrations among us and prevents us from uniting together as one nation when elections are over.

We respectfully recommend that you consider the qualities of Mitt Romney when deciding to vote for president.

—LSN