The editorial of Aug. 5 referred to clear differences between Republicans and Democrats. That is largely so. However, there are two important areas where the two parties remain mostly silent.

First, there has not been one word about the war, its cost, its contribution to the deficit, and the fact that the only Americans who have paid anything for it so far are the military personnel and their loved ones.

The second issue that remains largely unaddressed by either party is the federal banking and investment policy that allowed the current worldwide financial instability. Banks and investment institutions have changed little to nothing, nor have they been required to.

When is it that either party makes serious attempts to address either of these major problems?

Folger Cleaveland, Farmington