Here are eight reasons why we will lose our American way of life. Unless these are addressed, we can all say goodbye.

• Lifetime politicians. We need to set term limits on all our elected government officials, regardless of position or level.

• Welfare as a lifestyle. I know several families who are cheating the system. They have taken what was intended as a safety net and turned it into a living.

• Cost of health care. Being part of a small business, I have seen what it costs us. Unless you are employed by a large corporation, it is difficult to afford decent coverage.

• Disappearance of the middle class. The rising cost of living is making it harder for us to begin families and plan for the future.

• Political correctness. This is being taken to the extreme. If Merry Christmas is offensive, something is very wrong. Freedom of speech is one of the founding tenets of this country.

• Unnecessary government spending. The government must learn to operate as if it is a business. A business has to be run with a budget and stick to it. Raising taxes every time it runs out of money is not good business.

• Lawsuits. You can be sued for just about anything today. Right or wrong, there are lawyers who will pursue any lawsuit.

• Overregulation. You can no longer do anything to your property (car, house, land) without first getting permission.

James Hanson III, Turner