LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Pruning the ‘tree’ of American government

OPINION:

The tree that is America was formed 235 years ago with three distinct branches to ensure checks and balances.

Everything went smoothly for many years until a beetle called a lobbyist attacked two of the branches and made them ineffective. In order to preserve the tree, an exterminator in the form of the American voter must now cut off those two branches and graft on new ones - and then spray them with a pesticide that will kill the beetle.

If this metaphorical pruning does not occur soon, the American tree will become nothing but a dead twig in the forest. Wake up, America, and prove that you are smarter than a fifth-grader.

RICHARD ROCKSTRAW

Chesterton, Ind.