This letter is addressed to my Democratic friends. First, forget Donald Trump for just a few minutes. Not everything about our country need be framed around the persona of Trump. Second, my family has itself confronted senile dementia within its ranks. It is a tragic and debilitating part of aging for too many. It is certainly not something to be scorned, yet neither can it be ignored. Those of us who have dealt with dementia are familiar with its symptoms. We have personally witnessed the confusion, the embarrassment, and the inappropriate anger that accompanies the condition.

Events of this past week make it apparent that Joe Biden no longer possesses the cognitive faculties required to discharge his office. His decline invites aggression by adversaries who perceive a vacancy in America’s leadership. The Democratic Party has many talented individuals capable of stepping up to serve. It has a public duty to address the current situation, rather than continuing to pretend that it does not exist. As we prepare to elect our next leader, it is vital that voters have a genuine choice. The Democratic Party owes it to the American people to ensure that its standard-bearer is up to the task.

Richard Merkt

Westmoreland