Seems we are already in the presidential “battle” for 2024. How did we get to the two oldest candidates? Keep in mind that local and state candidates and policies are equally important. You only need to look at Southern red states to see the will to ban books, halt free speech, stop personal freedoms and persecute anyone differing from themselves.

As for president, the difference is glaring. Used to be I could vote for best qualified, as with McCain, Kasich and others. Not sure what the Republicans stand for these day — not law and order, childcare, healthcare, personal freedoms, voter rights, workers, minorities, or most of the things everyday people look for.

We are producing record oil, yet prices are still high at the pump. The last record output was 12.3 million barrels per day in 2019, before the covid-19 pandemic. (Big Oil more than doubled its profits in 2022 to $219 billion). Inflation is close to where we need it. Not for all of us, but Americans’ growing paychecks surpassed inflation for the first time in two years. Some, as fishermen in Bristol Bay, got the very short end! Jobs are plentiful, Congress has no intention of fixing the immigration system. More tax cuts for the rich? Realize that simply puts the burden on the ones down the ladder. “Trickle down,” is a bad joke, unless you own stocks.

Much of this will be felt over the coming years: Lowering cost of drugs. Rebuilding our infrastructure. Over 100 actions to lower household energy costs by $100. CHIPS and Science Act will lower costs, create jobs, strengthen supply chains, and counter China.

POUL TOFTEMARK

Rosburg