Middle-class Americans may want to prepare for the future of their families and their country. 2020 will offer voters an opportunity to redirect American politics or to wallow in the all too familiar land of discontent, disconnection and general apathy.

It’s time for the citizens of America to wake up and realize that much of the political frustration we are experiencing is not so much the man in the White House as it is the men and women who serve in the U.S. Congress. Their unwillingness to search for common ground solutions upon which the American middle-class depends is a travesty. It’s time to remember who holds the bottom line authority in our nation: American voters.

A small group of people in Bend, Oregon, wants to invite all American voters to consider the opportunities that a new political party might bring to our nation. The AmericanLions represent a new approach to politics that is desperately needed at this point in our history. It offers a window of possibilities that currently does not exist in Washington. Our goal is to place a Lion candidate in the Oval Office who speaks for the real power in America: the voters.

While money has dominated the forces of recent elections, we believe that voters who unite around a platform of issues designed to improve the lives of average citizens can displace the enormous funding provided by corporate, lobby, and special interests groups that support citizens interests ahead of their typical financial concerns. The U.S. Congress needs a leader in the White House who’s willing to be a broker for the American people and their interests, period.

The president’s role as chief legislator has become too hampered by political-party connections, and his inability to promote independent legislation regarding the needs and values of common American citizens and voters is no longer acceptable.

The 21st century offers unprecedented opportunities of communication and fundraising that make the creation of a new party possible. AmericanLions place value on the American people. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent. All we ask is that you consider a group that represents truth, service and responsibility. An organization that seeks to put American people first and believes that our national Congress needs to scour the universe for solutions that improve the lives of families across America.

Health care, pharmaceutical costs, school safety, immigration, veteran needs and welfare reform are issues that can be addressed in a manner that would benefit the majority of Americans and their families — a party of 21st century coalitions united in the belief that we can be stronger by working and voting together, a party of common sense and reason, a party that refuses to buy into fear and a party that puts children’s needs first, citizens second and money third.

If these thoughts and ideas resonate with you, please consider helping us. We need quality people who can assist with website and YouTube channel development as well as marketing, media and public fundraising. It won’t cost anything to have a look. AmericanLions could become the greatest coalition of voters and subsequent authority in modern politics. We need creative, intelligent and successful people to grow this organization. Our nation is full of talented folks who know that we need to put Washington back on track and understand how influential an independent leader in the White House could impact legislation and our lives.

If a better candidate appears in 2020, we should all vote for him or her. That’s the true beauty of our nation. But if we find ourselves in another presidential election with less than a great choice, we’ll be ready with a candidate who’ll represent the issues of the middle class and pressure Congress into action rather than stumbling through another four years. What could it hurt to have a Lion ready for the White House in 2020?

— Robert Markland lives in Bend.