One letter writer states it is "farfetched" to believe "anyone would want to eat out of garbage cans." Agreed. As the president believes -- we are better than that.

When the writer further states she's "all for helping the handicapped," she fails to understand the impossibility of differentiating between the truly disabled and the "freeloaders." I agree our children should not pay for "laziness." Is it not a positive sign that our children, rich and poor, have learned to be "hard-working" citizens? The president's vision gives all our children an equal chance of achieving the American dream.

Other letter writers point out the broken promises of President Obama. It should come as no surprise that a politician will break a promise. It is for their vision and ideals for a better future that we elect our representatives.

As President Obama claims, it is a bad bet to bet against the United States. It is his vision that all citizens are entitled to a chance to work toward the American dream. The recovery has begun and when we stand united, we are a great nation.

Our duty as citizens is to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and ensure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

We do need to quit blaming each other. If we stand together and work hard to find common ground, we will forever remain the United States.

Sandy Boshkoff

Granite City