In the spirit of true American patriotism let me be among the first to say how truly grateful we are that you are not communists!

However, gentlemen, while you bask in those accolades, may I remind you that not only are you running for the two highest offices of our land, but the immeasurable opportunity to influence thought and action in our land.

So please, I pray thee, with all my heart, leave collectivist words out of your vocabulary and stop referring to the “middle class” of America! There are no economic classes in America – except the ones you take in high school or college. We are a nation of principled values beginning with self-evident truths like all men are created equal:

• Equal before the law
• Equal before God
• Equal in opportunity to be grateful for the outcome of our effort – good or bad, success or failure, honor or infamy
• Equal in the protection of our Rights
• Equal Rights, Not Equal Things

We’re also endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights that include (but not limited to:)

• The Right to Life
• The Right to Liberty
• The Pursuit of Happiness
• The Right of self-government
• The Right to bear arms for self-defense
• The Right to own, develop, and dispose of property
• The Right to make personal choices
• The Right of free conscience
• The Right to choose a profession
• The Right to choose a mate
• The Right to beget one’s kind
• The Right to assemble
• The Right to petition.
• The Right to free speech
• The Right to a free press
• The Right to enjoy the fruits of one’s labors
• The Right to improve one’s position through barter and sale
• The Right to contrive and invent
• The Right to explore the natural resources of the earth
• The Right to privacy
• The Right to provide personal security
• The Right to provide nature’s necessities – air, food, water, clothing, and shelter
• The Right to a fair trial
• The Right of free association
• The Right to contract

Additionally, unalienable Duties including (but not limited to:)

• The duty to love and honor the creator
• The duty to love and honor other people
• The duty to promote virtuous and godly people to offices of leadership
• The duty not to take the life of another except in self-defense
• The duty not to steal or destroy the property of another
• The duty to be honest in all transactions with others
• The duty of children to honor and obey their parents and elders
• The duty of parents and elders to protect, teach, feed, clothe, and provide shelter for children
• The duty to support law and order and keep the peace
• The duty not to contrive through a covetous heart to despoil another
• The duty to provide insofar as possible for the needs of the helpless – the sick, the crippled, the injured, the poverty-stricken
• The duty to honorably perform contracts and covenants both with God and man
• The duty to be temperate
• The duty to become economically self-sufficient
• The duty not to trespass on the property or privacy of another
• The duty to maintain the integrity of the family structure
• The duty to perpetuate the race
• The duty not to promote or participate in the vices which destroy personal and community life
• The duty to perform civic responsibilities – vote, assist public officials, serve in official capacities when called upon, stay informed on public issues, volunteer where needed
• The duty not to aid or abet those involved in criminal or anti-social activities
• The duty to support personal and public standards of common decency
• The duty to follow rules of moral virtue

And I think I can speak for all true patriots in exhorting you to give little heed to party, label or creed but rather demonstrate firmness in speech, manner, governance and core values to the principles of the republic confident that it is honest men & women to whom you appeal. The very people our founding fathers confidently confided the principles to which we can repair our great nation.