CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When we vote for president, we will not cast our ballots for those who would have real power in this country. We will not choose the chairman of the Koch Brothers or JC Morgan Chase or Citibank or the Premier of China.

And if the Citizens United decision continues, we will not ever again vote for the factual leader.

I am going with my best assurance for a second term for President Obama and a changed Congress that will go after the good that our people deserve and put democracy back in the people's hands. That has terrified the Right. A man of real feeling will help win social justice and tolerance.

In addition, we see the day when all our incumbent legislators will be supporting EPA's efforts to properly enforce regulations that prohibit killing our kids and other people. Often in politics, people want votes and will do anything to get them. I am sad about this. Some sleazy lobbyists openly tell legislators how to punch what buttons or they can just forget their financial backing.

While many declare Democrats are kinder and gentler, they are just as quick to take us to war and sell us out to the corporate interests. Obamacare seems like a gift to the insurance companies, but it may be on the right track to a single-payer system.

We were disappointed when our new president did not come out the gate after his inauguration and undo most of the damage of the previous administration in the manner of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt's first 100 days. Obama is a good and decent man if he is not sending in drones to kill Pakistani citizens or prosecuting government whistleblowers. His administration has brought forth much progressive legislation, successful executive orders, foreign policy accomplishments and outstanding programs.

I was so hopeful that our country had changed. I thought we had found our moral footing. Soon I had doubts with his putting Tim Geithner and Larry Summers in charge of economic policies and changed his mind about closing Gitmo. Of course, you have to remember Bill Clinton, and we do not understand what all there is to know about Gitmo. Unfortunately, that is politics, and we cannot win them all.

But we cannot afford to sit out the election. We must point out that four years is simply not enough time to undo all the hurt caused by the biggest economic crash since the Great Depression.

In one or two elections, the parties may realign and voting blocs may shift. Some have approached this election by writing off large numbers of people - African-Americans, Hispanics and women. These persons may still win, but four years from now, the growth of the minority may or may not cause a different outcome.

In the meantime, let us have more diversity, more jobs and better promotion of clean coal and by selling it more. The Democratic Party that first brought us Social Security, Medicare and much social expansion is what we need from now on.

Too few have no trust. There is a fear of complex issues. Some want an authoritarian rule and at the same time call for individual rights and smaller government. They are intensely paradoxical. We had better modify our message. Whigs or Federalists could be waiting.

Remember Al E. Smith, in a speech at Albany, N.Y., on June 27, 1933, said: "All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy."

Holliday, of Fayette County, is a former state senator and newspaper publisher.