The League of Women Voters is right: We should push for wide participation in the upcoming election. We should also encourage wide consideration of issues.

Will you vote based principally on the candidate's position on women's issues like abortion? So are we voting for a woman's president, or an American president? What about Medicare and Social Security? Are we electing a president for seniors, or for all Americans? Likewise gay rights. Are we electing a president for gays, or for all Americans?

Are these issues important? Yes. So are many others, like the economy and jobs, international terrorism, energy security and the future of our safety-net programs. There are a host of issues that affect you, your job and your pocketbook, so why limit yourself to just one?

The main question, of course, is who will handle important issues to your satisfaction. Mr. Obama has asked for more time to do more of the same, which I believe has gotten us economic and job stagnation, has weakened our military and our position in the world while putting taxpayers on the hook for General Motors and health care. He has no plan to tackle the national debt or to secure Medicare and Social Security.

His campaign says "give me four more years because Romney is a worse choice." What happened to his accomplishments and ideas? As both sides agree, this will be an important election in November.

Binnie Perper Ferndale