I respect public demonstrations that support freedom and liberty. However, in large-group demonstrations there always are a few participants who represent the radical agenda that mars and distorts the real messages of the protesters.

Unfortunately, the mainstream media run with these radicals to boost their ratings. So, I just ignore signs and flags that support “Che” Guevara, Marxism, communism, anarchy, violence, and the destruction of capitalism.

What is curious to me is how much the Wall Street demonstrators have in common with the Tea Party. Like the Tea Party, they want the end of Wall Street cronyism and politicians who use their office to get rich and powerful. Like the Tea Party, they want to end government squandering of our tax dollars for failed causes and paybacks for political favors.

Where the two groups differ is about what role our federal government should have in our daily lives.

The Tea Party seeks smaller, less-intrusive government to protect individual freedoms, thus making us more responsible and liable for our own successes and failures. On the other hand, the Wall Street group is looking for a larger, more involved government with more regulatory power — in other words, a safety net comprising government-paid jobs, free health insurance, and a guaranteed reduction of upper-class wealth and, at the same time, increasing the wealth of the middle class.

One wants redistribution of wealth while the other believes in the individual accumulation of wealth.

In 2012, we will have the responsibility through our votes to determine which course is the one we want our country to be on. Not since the Civil War have the stakes been so high.

My question is: What is your vision for our country?