I write to you today, not as the president and CEO of Melaleuca, but as a citizen of our great country. These are crucial times for the United States. We are approaching what I believe to be one of the most important elections in the history of our nation. I hope that our Canadian friends will forgive me as I speak to those who are citizens of the United States and who will have the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice this November. (As Canadians face elections in the future, I believe these same principles will apply.) I do not, of course, think it is my place to tell anyone how to vote, but I do believe it may be appropriate to point out a few facts that concerned citizens may want to add to their decision-making process. I also believe that whoever becomes our next president - as well as who controls the next Senate and Congress - will have a major impact on our future as a company and as well as our nation … and a huge impact on the type of world our children will grow up in.

First, let's talk about our children. It is no secret that our country has been very embarrassed by the actions of our president over the past several years - not only his involvement in the Monica Lewinsky affair, but the denial, the perjury, and the numerous other alleged scandals and allegations against the man that we and our children look to as a role model and a leader. I believe this has eroded the moral fabric of our country. What makes this situation even more tragic is that these events seem to have created a new concept for leadership: that the economy is more important than morality, and that standards of honesty and ethics should no longer be required of our leaders. In fact, to the contrary, since they are leaders, many take it for granted that they will misrepresent the truth and be unethical! In fact, we tend to forgive them for any untruths or misdeeds even before we hear of them. After all, they are our leaders and isn't that how all great leaders behave?

It now seems to be acceptable to the public that our nation is becoming more and more corrupt and that there is nothing we can do about it. We just accept that that's the way it is or choose to believe that it really isn't happening and this is all an illusion created by the press or the opposing party. What is happening to America? What will happen to our children if this is not stopped? What can we do? We can become informed and be sure to vote!

As we look at the two candidates for president, it would be clearly unfair to hold Vice President Al Gore accountable for President Clinton's actions - or to give him credit for the president's successes. It would be just as unfair to hold George W. Bush responsible for his father's weaknesses or give him credit for his father's successes. These two men should stand on their own records! Please become informed. Look closely at their histories. A man who has disregarded honesty and ethics in the past will have the same disregard as our president. I am not suggesting that either has been dishonest, but I do believe it is important to determine if this is the case! I would hope you would draw your own conclusion as to the ethics of each candidate, but most of all, I would hope that you and other Americans will make ethics and honesty a requirement for our next president and for all elected officials.

Another point to consider: As we listen to the promises made by candidates as to what they will cause the government to do for us in our old age, it may be easy to think, "I am going to be old someday and it would be nice if the government would take care of me." What we may not realize is that, with the astounding number of baby boomers reaching retirement age in the next two decades, what we are really deciding is how much debt and responsibility we are willing to place on the shoulders of our children and grandchildren. The economy is great now, but to believe that there will still be a surplus when there is only one person of working age for every two that are retired is absurd. Our children and grandchildren deserve the same opportunity for prosperity as we have. We should not saddle them with unfair taxes and a huge national debt. One presidential candidate is proposing a plan that promises that the federal government will take care of everything and almost everybody. You decide which plan that is, and then ask yourself if you want your children to pay for all of that. We must always realize that when someone says the federal government will pay, that means we and our children will pay. The only place for the federal government to get its money is from us! Let's leave our children with a legacy of ethics in government and a responsible fiscal policy. This will not happen if we only hope it will happen. It will only come to pass if we take a strong stand and require it to happen.

This is an extremely important election, not only on the presidential level but also on all state and federal levels. I obviously have a strong opinion on that, but everyone should form their own opinion as they study the facts and become informed. However, I do believe we all need to take a stand on requiring honesty and ethics from our leaders - not only the president, but every elected official and private leader. It's time that we take a stand!

Please get out to vote next month for the candidate of your choice. Thank you for allowing me to give my two cents worth.

Sincerely,

Frank L. VanderSloot
Concerned U.S. Citizen