I am not surprised by the vitriol in print and media against the Obama government. I am surprised that many commentators are not bashful about declaring they want the government to fail.

In any election, the losing party is always unhappy and you hear from them most frequently. That is human nature. Our patriotism demands that we oversee our government, and critical evaluation and comment are part of that oversight. That is the way it should be in a democracy, so I would never disparage reasoned criticism.

Every government does its best to achieve its goals, and certainly the last was unable to sustain the economy. After eight bad years, I think it is going to take a little longer to turn things around. My question is: if the government fails who suffers? A rising tide may raise all boats but an ebbing tide also grounds them all.

Has business prospered the last eight years? I don’t think you will find many business owners who feel prosperous. I, for one, don’t care who sets things to right, but if you have tried your best, stand aside and let someone else try.

If you are a business owner, ask yourself what governmental philosophy was in place when the economy tanked. I am not going to buy anything I don’t need until things look better. If a large number of us feel the same way, there will be little sold but food, shelter and fuel.

The country had a little surge after Obama’s election because those who voted for him felt hopeful. If you want to destroy that hope and the recovery, keep on shooting.

Marilyn Burgess, Leeds