I was talking to a fellow recently who I know is a Democrat and was surprised at how unbending he was to listen to any idea that wasn’t a hard-line Democratic idea.

I’m an independent and have come to the realization that hard-line politics is really a major problem in our country today. Hard-line Democrats and Republicans need to step back and join forces to correct the problems of our country instead of focusing on their particular party. The people of this country are the ones suffering from their hard-line politics.

President Kennedy, in a speech to Congress, said: “Man has created this problem and man needs to solve this problem.”

Let’s make bipartisanship a strong and viable word again.

JIM WILSON

Johnson City