While I agree with much in Mr. Charles Harris' letter, I'd like to offer some alternative information.
First, I agree that our current president and those close to him are liberal, socialistic, and power hungry. That we indeed are on the verge of overt bankruptcy, that we are continually lied to, and that those in Washington are "clueless as to how to solve these problems." Also your conclusion that "we must restore self reliance, self respect, and independence to our citizenry and thereby build our country back ..." is superb!
As we realize the above issues however, I think it is crucial that we understand that the titanic has been taking on water for a lot longer than two years. We have been marching toward tyranny and socialism with the left AND right foot for decades. Deficit spending (Ronald Reagan), big government health care (Phil Gingrey -- Medicare part D), stimulus and bailouts (McCain, Isakson, Chambliss) have flowed from both parties -- including the "conservatives" -- for a good long while. Things would not be much different today if John McCain or Mike Huckabee were president.
With regard to the turbulent 60s you are leaving out some things. Many informed people believe that that was the decade in which our own very popular president was probably assassinated by the CIA. If not, it is crystal clear that the government explanation of the assassination is completely false and fraudulent.
Also, during the Vietnam war there was a draft. Some think that using the power of government to force another to fight to the death against his will is the opposite of freedom. In the 60s if you were poor, not interested in killing or being killed in Asia for reasons that weren't clear, and you had a suspicion that the politicians and generals sending you there were "power hungry," "clueless," "arrogant," and "thin skinned" (read up on the Gulf of Tonkin incident) you could either go to jail or try to escape to Canada. To say that these men went to Canada to "avoid serving their country" is really not a fair characterization. Of course if you had political connections, money, or some good excuses you could bypass the draft yourself and still cheer the war effort. Why was only one of them called a draft dodger? Some would say that leaving your country and family and risking imprisonment on moral grounds is heroic, and that cheering a war and not joining it is hypocritical. Surely our foreign policy needs to be informed by this perspective as well.
I do believe that 2010 will be the most important election in U.S. history, but we wont change things if we keep doing the same things. With very few exceptions, neither the republican or democratic party has candidates who can address our problems. My voting strategy is to pretty much vote against all incumbents. It doesn't matter to me anymore if the congress is R or D. Lets wipe the slate clean, let both parties get very weak, and see if the new people will listen better to the citizenry.
Thank you,
Tom Ryan