I soon will be 73 years old and must confess that I have never seen such political hatred in America as there has been in the past 10 to 15 years. After giving much thought as to why this is happening in a country as generous and good as the United States, I want to offer an opinion for other citizens to consider.

First of all, some of the hatred seems to come from those ultra-liberals who believe the government should have more control over our lives. Other hatred appears to come from those ultra-conservatives who want to save us from the evils of government as they see them.

Both groups are vocal in their beliefs and do not hesitate to criticize the other in a very immature manner. The shouting and name-calling comes across to the world as if that is the immature way America is thinking.

It is my experience that they are not speaking for the vast majority of Americans. However, because they are expressing controversial views, they are receiving the most attention from the news media. There are approximately 250 million people in our country. If only 10 percent of the population were in each group, that would mean 25 million political ultra-liberals and 25 million political ultra-conservatives are being allowed to speak for the remaining 200 million people.

Isn't it time for the moderate-conservatives and moderate-liberals to be considered by the media as also having a voice to bring about a more moderate and reasonable approach to the governing of the people who live in the best country in the world?

Show me any other country where the citizens have such a high standard of living and still have the freedom to criticize the government without fear of being sent to prison.

Why are we allowing such immature name-calling to dictate what kind of government we will have? Why can't the news media begin to realize that there are more moderate - and honest - voices out here in America who do not find it necessary to call each other names to get a viewpoint across?

Come on, moderate Americans, begin to let your voices be heard somehow!

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Warren E. Peterson of Highland Heights is a retired purchasing manager and author of the book Controlled Capitalism.

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