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Means to how we reach America’s goals matter

Bill Teufel, in his Sept. 10 letter to the editor, wonders “why all the national divisiveness when Americans want the same things.”

I would agree with Teufel that most Americans do want good jobs, lower taxes, a safe America, global respect and respect for our military, veterans and nation.

I think, however, that his analogy of using different routes to get to downtown Altoona misses the point. What route I use to get to downtown Altoona doesn’t really matter. What means we use to achieve our mutual national goals matters a great deal.

If we achieve lower taxes by disproportionately cutting taxes for the wealthy and adding huge amounts to our national debt, it matters.

When our myopic president tries to prop up jobs in the coal industry by ignoring the science of global warming and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, it matters. When our president insults our allies and NATO partners yet seems to hold Russia and Vladimir Putin in high regard, therefore diminishing our global respect, it matters.

When we have a president who undermines his own intelligence agencies and Department of Justice, speaks out against judges with whom he disagrees and labels any news report that disagrees with him as “fake,” it matters.

When we withdraw from the TPP with no serious analysis from this administration, likely leaving a void in Southeast Asia which China is ready and willing to fill, it matters.

I’m my opinion, American exceptionalism is about more than a booming stock market and unfunded tax cuts. It is about leadership, honesty and respect for individuals, religions, nationalities, the rule of law, and our environment.

Sadly, our current administration falls short in most of these ideals.

Andy Atwater

Altoona

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