As things quiet down, now what?

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012 | 2 a.m.

Dear reader,

On Sunday, we asked readers to comment about what happens after the election. In our letter to the readers, here is part of what we wrote:

“No matter who the winners are, can we get along? How does the nation move forward? What do the next two or four years look like? (And not just in Washington but in Carson City.)”

We saw a vigorous debate on the website, and we received several emails from readers outlining their thoughts. Here is a sampling of the comments we received, and the word cloud above represents some of that commentary. As the election starts to fade, the questions become more relevant.

We’d love to have your thoughts as part of the discussion. Send them to: [email protected], or care of Letters to the Editor, Las Vegas Sun, 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor, Henderson, NV 89074.

• • •

You have to wonder if, after all the energy expended on the election campaign, there’s any gas left in the tank for actually solving problems.

Either way, most of us will continue chopping wood and carrying water.

— Pisces41 (Jim Weber)

• • •

Sorry that my expectations are low. I think there will be continued accusations, anger, blaming and complaining about whoever is in the White House and Congress.

It is almost a national sport now.

— peacelily

• • •

If we are to return to a decent rate of growth, rising wages and more employment, we have to have compromise in our legislatures, both national and at the state level. This compromising will have to be led by the president and state governors and be supported by a majority of the American people.

Tough decisions, such as raising taxes for everyone and a real commitment to reducing spending must be a part of any plan.

I understand that Obama and Romney must push the fairy tale that no sacrifice will be necessary during a campaign, but I hope both realize that it is a fairy tale and once elected, they drop it and tell us the truth, ugly though it is.

— wtplv (Michael Casler)

• • •

Our country will be just fine regardless of who wins the presidency. The USA moves by its own momentum thanks in large part to our Founders who designed our system of government to do so. And thanks to Americans who have an unwavering love and respect our great country.

— CarmineD (Carmine DiFazio)

• • •

As long as the victory by either side is outside of the margin of voter suppression, the results should give enough impetus to get the debt situation addressed and a viable plan started.

The middle should dictate policy for a while, whoever wins.

“How does the nation move forward?”

It depends upon the middle of America getting activated. The hard-core members in both parties are likely to stay entrenched.

“What do the next two or four years look like?”

It depends upon the congresses in the federal government and state government, if they look at the future as the glass half full or half empty. The other end of the equation is: Will Christians accept that God is in control and will they support either winner? If they stand hard against Obama or trample everyone in a Romney win ...

— JeffFromVegas

• • •

I expect the outright hatred between the two major parties to continue to increase no matter who wins. Too many people have accepted the belief that there can be only two major parties, and that a third party is a waste of time.

There is a great need for another party to rise up that can bring in people from both the Democrats and Republicans who are not being properly represented by those platforms.

I see the situation only getting worse until the moderates from both parties join up with those who are truly independents to build up a third major party.

— boftx

• • •

Time and again we hear from the media that the United States Congress is “broken” and can’t get anything done. When are the media going to start getting this right? Congress is not “broken.” A small faction of extreme right-wing Republicans has produced the stalemate in Washington, D.C. that we are all too familiar with. As just one example, look at how a small faction of Republicans in Congress threw a wrench in disaster relief legislation, yet the media blamed all of Congress.

— Jumbo

• • •

College graduates better hope McDonald’s still has openings and their parents don’t sell the house and move to a smaller home in Sun City. They may have a great college education, but the job market will not improve.

— Larry B.

• • •

Campaign reform. Billions of dollars spent, thousands of half-truths or no-truth-at-all ads being run on TV and in periodicals ad nauseam. Take the money out of the process, and give the voters honest opinions and statements of positive information on which they can base their decisions.

— Merle M.

• • •

I believe whoever wins this election should try and work for the benefit of the people. Not the benefit of the party. This will be difficult.

It has been proven that the Republican Party has driven a wedge between the parties. This has caused myself and others to switch over and vote Democrat. For me, this is the first time in 44 years that I have voted for a Democrat for president.

— samspeaks (Sam Pizzo)

• • •

We need a new Congress, not a new president!

— Longtimevegan