'We the People' must consider each candidate wisely

Recently, Ben Carson suspended his campaign for president. In a letter to his supporters he wrote the following message that everyone should consider, regardless of party line.

“Running for president was never on my bucket list, and when I was drafted by a grassroots movement asking me to do so, it was not a decision that I made lightly. 

However, I believed that my values, life experience and common sense solutions put me in a position to help get our nation back on track for the sake of our children and grandchildren. This grueling endeavor would not have been worth it for any other reason.

I hope my presence added a measure of civility to the race, raised issues that would not otherwise have been discussed and had an overall positive impact. While our political efforts must come to a close, gratefully, this grassroots movement has given new voice to “We the People” and inspired millions. 

I have committed to not endorse a specific individual, but rather “We the People.” Though many today are making decisions based on fear and anger, I trust their judgment to logically examine the candidates and make the right decision by looking at:

• Whether they’ve demonstrated significant accomplishments over their lives and careers;

• if they have ideas that are clear and policies that are easy to find;

• how they treat their family and others, as that is how they will lead the country;

• what they have done to improve the lives of their fellow Americans;

• the people they are with, what they are saying and how they collaborate with others;

• their ethics, because what America needs is “trickle-down ethics.”

Conservatives should not be embarrassed by capitalism but must couple it with compassion to lift people out of a culture of dependency and provide ladders of opportunity for all Americans to be a part of the fabric of society.

People need to understand this is a most important election, in which we are deciding whether we allow the government to dictate our rights and take care of our needs, or whether individuals will rise up and take responsibility in an atmosphere of opportunity for all.

The bottom line is, “We the People” are the ones making the decisions; but in order to do that, we must become active and informed, not manipulated by the political class and media.

Along with millions of patriots who have supported my campaign for president, I remain committed to saving America for future generations. We must not depart from our goal of restoring what God and our Founders intended for this exceptional nation. 

Equally important, we need to understand that Republicans are not each others’ enemies. We need to engage in conversation and challenge each others’ positions, not fight each other.

Dr. Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, suspended his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination this month.