Having watched every one of the presidential debates, it has finally become clear to me that Ron Paul is the only adult there.

While the other contenders posture and throw around frivolous and personal attacks on each other, all the while pandering to a particular venue depending upon which state the debate happens to be in, wasting valuable debate time, Dr. Paul calmly says, in essence (in the few minutes he is usually granted): “Easy, boys. Let’s just stop this infighting and see if we can’t address some of the really important problems facing this country. Step back and think about what you’ve just said and consider just what that means to the well-being of this country and see if you can’t come up with a few rational ideas and programs to solve our massive and deep-seated dysfunction.”

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Presidential candidate Ron Paul visited the USM campus in Gorham last week and spoke to an overflow crowd in Hastings Hall. 2012 Press Herald file

At a recent debate, the moderator asked Dr. Paul his opinion of Mitt Romney’s financial status or Newt Gingrich’s personal problems. Dr. Paul answered that he wasn’t particularly interested.

Ron Paul foresaw and predicted our current economic problems years ago. He has offered real, solid, concrete solutions, whereas Romney, Gingrich and Rick Santorum are reduced to feel-good sound bites. Actually, the few worthwhile proposals in these other candidates’ postures have been taken from Dr. Paul.

A question for future moderators: What is your purpose and strategy of beginning these debates by leading Messrs. Romney and Gingrich into backyard, adolescent brawls? It is nothing more than you-did-I-did-not sibling rivalry. Could it be that your plan is to give these kids more exposure time on national television?

Nah. That would be too obvious. We, the voting public would see through that in a minute.

Wouldn’t we?

Bruce Bohrmann

Yarmouth

Congressman Ron Paul was in town. Young people (born after 1990) and others think his message is cool: “Get rid of the welfare state.”

Before you rush to do that, let me tell you firsthand what life was like in America back in the 1930s before we became a welfare state.

Back then, when you went to people’s houses, you noticed there were couches around, especially in dining rooms (if there was a dining room). These were not sofas, such as we have today. Nor were they pull-out couches. They were more like chaise-lounges, usually made of leather, with a built-in head rest.

On these couches slept elderly in-laws (often napping in the afternoon), who were “taken care of” by the “lady of the house” even right up through their last illness. (As the end approached, ladies of the house seemed to know instinctively when to send for the priest.)

Elderly in-laws were often enough the parents of the husband, who was away all day working.

After President Franklin D. Roosevelt, America gradually became a welfare state. The couches were put away in the attic or sold in used furniture shops. Ladies of the house got jobs or professions. (What they did at home before that was not labeled a “job.”) Many elderly in-laws now live by themselves, often in subsidized housing, some of which is paid for by the elderly themselves and some by taxpayers, a certain number of whom are “angry.”

To all who want to get rid of the welfare state, I say: “OK, fine, but before you do, better go up in the attic and bring down the couches.”

(Rev.) Joseph R. McKenna

Portland

Movement gives voters a third choice for president

Mainers now have the opportunity to participate in the first-ever national online primary that is open to everyone. This week, the Secretary of State certified that Americans Elect collected the required signatures to place a qualified candidate for president on the ballot in November.

When I first heard about Americans Elect, I was skeptical about what it was, who was involved and what they were trying to accomplish. Once I dug further and met the staff and volunteers, I was excited to see people with such differing views come together to change a problem we all agreed on — that the two parties don’t represent us.

In fact, a Jan. 15 Washington Post/ABC News poll found that two-thirds of Americans are open to supporting a qualified independent candidate. With this new online primary, the entire nation can weigh in on the issues we face and draft the candidates we wish to lead our country forward. This is a welcome opportunity for the American people to have their voices heard. This is also the opportunity for truly brave and qualified leaders to stand up for what they believe in and not bow to the almighty dollar.

Americans Elect is for people like myself who believe that our two-party system has become more polarized, dysfunctional and corrupted by the influence of money and power. Americans Elect is a tool to bring about positive change. It is up to us to seize this moment in history and vote for who we want as president, not for the candidates that have been chosen for us. We can make Americans Elect a success! With a two-party system that is already broken, we have nothing to lose. To sign up, visit AmericansElect.org.

Christopher Kessler

South Portland

Conservatives criticize Obama for wrong reason

I’m delighted when conservative commentators criticize President Obama for exactly the wrong reasons. I’m referring to Jonah Goldberg’s commentary on Jan 28 and George Will’s on Jan 31. They attack Obama’s State of the Union address for his praise of people working together (as in the military) for the common good.

Actually, that’s what has made us great — voluntary collective action for our country, a business, a charitable purpose or family. (Our army is made up of volunteers, remember.) We march in Will’s “lockstep, shoulder to shoulder, obedient to orders” when it is appropriate. Actually, that metaphor is out-of-date, even for the military: nowadays our troops in Afghanistan walk separated in unpredictable ways, “watching each others’ backs” in order to minimize the risk from IEDs or raking gunfire.

We value individual ideas and approaches, but we work together to achieve a common goal. That’s just plain American!

It’s too bad our Congress no longer has this standard.

Robert R. Wagner

Portland

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