The Republicans, at their convention in Tampa, Fla., placed a pro-life plank in their platform; the Democrats, a pro-choice plank in their platform at their convention in Charlotte, N.C.

People should not assume that all Republicans are pro-life, or that all Democrats are for choosing to kill the unborn. Mark Shields recently stated on the Lehrer News Hour that at least one-third of Democrats were pro-life and that the country, as a whole, was turning away from abortion.

Being pro-life means more than just being against abortion. Pro-life encompasses the children who live in poverty; children who go to bed hungry; the unemployed people (who lose their dignity when the families suffer from having to ask for charity or food stamps); the homeless; the mentally ill; senior citizens; children and adults without health care.

I wish Gov. Paul LePage, Lewiston Mayor Bob Macdonald and other nationally prominent Republicans would read two books I have read about the poverty in Texas and the lack of concern for the middle class, poor schools and immigrants. One author pointed out that today’s divided society endangers the nation’s future.

I think it is immoral (as the bishops called the Ryan budget) to balance the federal budget on the backs of the poor, the middle class and children.

The southern Republicans, former Democrats and the southern Democrats are still hoping to overturn the civil rights laws; trying to suppress voters’ rights.

Joanna Walsh-Ward, Lewiston