This country is being ravaged by war, concerns about national security, bad economic decisions and an ethnocentrist nationalism that has divided this nation by religion, race and geography. This presidential campaign is about more than the competence, which clearly all the candidates possess. It is also more than simply building consensus through compromise and moderation. That kind of middle of the road politics has caused us to stagnate as a nation. Now is the time for a broader vision, change, an audacity of hope and unity where the best ideas prevail, not what is politically expedient. It is no longer about single issues and mean-spirited campaigns or about tough-talking media types. It is about asking questions that promote the crystallization and distillation of the best ideas in government. Traditional political party politics of "I'm O.K. and you're all wrong" will no longer work.

This country is still being driven by special interests and corporations capable of buying campaigns and candidates. All presidential candidates have raised and spent enormous amounts of money. It is now projected that more than $1 billion will be spent on this presidential campaign. Is this really what we want as a nation? Do we really want to support candidates because they have designed the most creative television ads with mushroom clouds or red phones in the background?

It is time for a change, a big change within ourselves where we turn away from partisan politics for its own sake and begin to embrace all people of all nations. We need to be the peacemakers and problem-solvers not warmongers. It is not simply defeating Al Qaeda with military force, but rather with better ideas for today and tomorrow. We must begin to heal ourselves by healing the rest of the world through compassion and understanding. We need to share our resources and our strengths by helping to build schools and hospitals worldwide. This will do more to depose dictators, restore peace to countries torn or ruined by civil wars and it will promote democracy throughout the world.

Our nation must set an example in our words and actions. We should have a federal incorporation statute instead of state-by-state laws that allow corporations to environmentally run amok. We need to do away with the death penalty and stop our mindset that jails are a solution to the problems of criminal justice. We need more programs that give those accused of some crimes a second chance with job programs and drug and alcohol rehabilitation in lieu of jail. We need universal health care just as we needed Social Security. Everyone should have access to the best health care available. The billion dollar insurance industry should have limits imposed on their profits and what they can charge physicians for medical malpractice insurance. Some aspects of medicine may have to be socialized.

Our borders should be open but we need to find ways to assimilate new immigrants into our culture. Legalizing their status will take them out of the pervasive underground economy and allow them to pay their fair share of taxes. Why shouldn't hard-working, good people who come here for the opportunities which we offer, be allowed to work their way into our society just as our ancestors did. We need to stop our racism now and turn off the Lou Dobbs Show.

The polar ice cap is melting, global warming is here and we will have over 450 million people living in the United States by 2050. What kind of a world do we want for our children and grandchildren? We will not be giving them opportunities, hope or a healthy planet by engaging in a 100-year war. We will if we start looking to national and global solutions while restoring peace.

Thomas F. Liotti

(Editor's Note: Thomas F. Liotti is a Westbury Village Justice and Garden City-based attorney.)