How so many Americans can express apathy toward the watershed presidential election less than four months away is virtually unfathomable.

President Obama and Mitt Romney, and the courses they propose for this nation, are so different, they should be galvanizing voters like never before.

Obama has left no doubt about the statist course he has been pursuing — and intends to continue. He, plain and simple, favors redistribution of wealth on a scale unimagined by previous administrations. He continues to push for greater federal spending, bigger government and intrusion in every aspect of American life, despite an already crushing federal deficit.

He successfully pushed his first steps toward national health care through Congress. It is now up to the people to determine that he went too far.

He is all but promising a college education — another entitlement on top of the already staggering cost of subsidized college loans — for anyone who wants one. He has never met a spending program he does not like.

Obama’s career has revolved around the public sector, education and government. He has proven he is no friend of private enterprise — or, indeed, of individual liberty.

His administration has destabilized Arab governments, without any clear benefit for the United States — and in some instances, clear disadvantages — in the name of “spreading democracy,” but little more than chaos has been the result. Look at Egypt, for example. Great job, Mr. President. What have you achieved on behalf of the United States?

Mitt Romney is a diametric opposite. He made his career in the private sector, and, yes, he made a lot of money in the process. That’s a bad thing? Since when? And could that apply to Bill Clinton, who has made his fortune since leaving the White House? Or even Obama himself, and his wife, with significant book royalties? Making money does create jobs — and it does generate tax revenue. Those are positives — not negatives.

Romney has created jobs, not at government agencies further intruding into American lives, but in the private sector, where it counts. Real jobs. Productive jobs. Yes, it is true: Not every investment was a successful job-creator, or, even, job retainer. That’s reality. Perfect records are a rare thing. Ask any investor. Even Democrat Warren Buffet.

Romney went into government only AFTER a successful private sector career. The man doesn’t need to work. He has made his fortune. But he believes in a course for this nation, one that will shrink government, reduce spending, pay down the debt. He believes in giving back in return for all that he has received from this great nation and its free enterprise system.

You don’t have to like Romney, or Obama, to recognize the differences. You don’t have to like them to understand you have a clear choice to make in determining the direction of this country, not just for yourself, but, more importantly, for your children, your great-grandchildren and the generations that come after them. And you certainly don’t have to agree with either of them 100 percent on everything.

Will this continue to be a great nation of unlimited opportunity, or will it travel the socialist path of Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal and so many others, now unable to pay their bills, faced with rioting in the streets, demands to continue the gravy train even though there is no more money?

The choice is yours. The candidates ARE different. Very, very different. Listen carefully. Then choose, liberty and economic freedom or socialism and bankruptcy. Two different candidates. Two vastly different directions.