To the editor:

One circus down, one carnival to go. The conventions are like a minister preaching to his choir. It is a week of platitudes, of empty rhetoric. By the time Thursday finally comes, the ego of each presidential candidate is so large he thinks he can walk on water.

Millions were spent in Boston on security alone. And for what? Was a single mind changed? Wouldn’t it be to all our benefit if each party had its own TV infomercials and the convention was a thing of the past? Wouldn’t it be nice if all the capital spent protecting these staged events were used in places where it’s really needed: homeland security, strengthening our borders, Social Security?

A Democrat is a Democrat is a Democrat. One can talk until he is red, green or blue in the face but he will be unable to change the left-leaning mind. The same can be said for Republicans. A candidate can represent the very values that a voter deems important, but if the office seeker has the opposite label, he is automatically dismissed.

Were minds made up last month? Four years ago? Actually, for most, they were likely decided decades ago. The party of our father or grandfather decided how we cast our vote today. Yes, there is the small percentage that actually votes the issues rather than the party. But for most of us, we are walking in lockstep with the party chosen by our forefathers.

No convention or rally will make the slightest bit of difference. So save it!

Richard Smith,

Lawrence