Gary Boyd’s insightful letter (Aug. 24) about socialism was exactly on the mark. My dad was on the Benton County Quorum Court more than 30 years and very intense about justice and fairness. I heard him say many times there was an ongoing movement to take this country to Socialism. Every American should read Daniel Hannan’s book “Inventing Freedom: How the English Speaking Peoples Made the Modern World,” and understand the precious heritage we have. From the Magna Carta to English common law to the American Declaration of Independence, the underlying principles were individual freedom and property rights. Now that is being eroded by ignorant, selfish people.

Barack Obama has now polled as the worst president since World War II — the results of electing as president a community organizer never before in charge of anything, with an ideology contrary to the principles America was founded on. Beginning with Obama’s overseas “apology” tour, he’s made it obvious he does not believe America is, or should be, exceptional and a world leader.

Now Obama’s “leading from behind” and too little, too late strategy has America, in the words of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, facing something like we’ve never faced before. Hillary Clinton, with other advisers, has stated she tried to convince him three years ago to arm the Syrian rebels before it was too late, but he refused. Consequently, a terrorist army, ISIS, so vicious al Queda disavows them, organized in Syria and spread across the border into Iraq, declaring the first Islamist State.

ISIS has killed thousands of innocent men, women and children. Their preferred method is beheading, recently beheading the American Journalist James Foley and posting it on the Internet. It’s reported several thousand European and some American crazies have joined them, with valid passports to return home without question. Consider this … the hooded animal who beheaded James Foley had a British accent.

Secretary Hagel and Joint Chief Martin E. Dempsey have stated this scourge must be destroyed — but they must wait on their “commander-in-chief.” Our allies overseas are fearful and our enemies only feel contempt.

BARBARA FOREMAN

Siloam Springs