To the editor
It was good to read that Anderson County residents are flocking to the polls and voting early.
Voting percentage is a telling data point related to the level of apathy in an electorate. Clearly, Americans in general, and Anderson County residents in particular, seem to be champing at the bit for America to succeed going forward. The Founding Fathers would be proud.
Simply voting, however, is not enough. We need to embrace this privilege by voting with an eye on facts, data, history and results. As an independent, I have voted in the past for both Democrats and Republicans. I now eschew party loyalty (and incessant smears) in favor of who will do the best job for America in relation to peace and prosperity. Peace and prosperity has been the gauge of political effectiveness for well over a century, and it transcends political ideology.
At this point in our history, it is widespread partisan politics and political ideologies that have America at the precipice of self-destruction.
The rancor and outright hatred that has permeated our politics clouds our vision, and what is best for America, take a back seat.
In Anderson County and America, we owe it to our 248-year history to vote with our minds as opposed to voting for who partisan hacks and nefarious actors tell us to hate.
For America to move forward, the American people must lay hatred aside and embrace a collective will for a better future.
If not, the partisan hacks and nefarious actors will take America into the abyss. Do we really want to go there?
Sam Foust
Norris