Look to 'promise of change'

The November election will determine the direction and future of this country, so it's critical to focus on issues rather than personalities, ideas rather than rhetoric.

To the 80 percent of Americans who believe that we are headed in the wrong direction, there's a realistic possibility that keeping Republicans in power for four more years will continue the disasters created by Republicans who have been in charge for the last eight.

When Bush took office, the U.S. had a surplus, unemployment was down and jobs had not been outsourced by companies to obtain tax breaks. Since then, we have faced crisis after crisis. To mention a few: Bush created the Iraqi crisis, deceptively using scare tactics to convince Congress and Americans that there was an "imminent threat" by Saddam. Hurricane Katrina was a tragically mismanaged disaster. Today we are in an economic meltdown, caused in large part by Republican-led deregulation policies of the "free market" that they now want to bail out with taxpayer dollars.

Republicans blame Democrats for everything, even though Republicans have been in charge of this administration for eight years and Congress for six. The last two years, Republicans have managed to filibuster every creative idea the Democrats proposed to address: health care, Iraq, the economy, etc. Fortunately, Democrats were able to block the privatization of Social Security as proposed by Bush and McCain. Looking at the market today, would we want the "free market" to manage our retirement funds?

Remarkably, many Republicans such as George Will, Sen. Chuck Hagel and conservative columnist Richard Cohen have all criticized John McCain's campaign tactics and his policies. Cohen even remarked, "The John McCain of old is unrecognizable. He has become the sort of politician he once despised."

Americans who feel the country is heading in the wrong direction should consider the fact that in the last eight years, McCain voted with Bush policies more than 90 percent of the time.

The difference between the two candidates could not be more stark. We must choose between the continuance of the failed policies of the past eight years or look to the promise of change offered by the Obama campaign. The choice is ours.

Cynthia Neely
Lodi

Reader Feedback

DanielH wrote on Oct 2, 2008 10:14 PM:

" Cynthia Neely: This is not a Rep - Dem problem. The problem is in America's bankruptcy, which has been in place perhaps ever since the Mayflower, but definitely ever since America's acceptance of its constitution.

Every president has protected America from foreclosure through its bankruptcy. Dramas in American history have occurred in 70-year intervals when the bankruptcy was expired, and it demonstrated to its creditors that the debt is not being paid. 1798 + 70 + 70 + 70 = 1868 (Civil War, preservation of collateral), 1929 (pledging slaves to pay the debt) , 1999 (expiration of slave labor and possibly end of bankruptcy). Additionally, in the War of 1812, creditors burned bank-related buildings in Washington D.C.

Quite possibly, 1999 had initiated a new era of debt. Clinton established relations with China, and commerce in America having nothing to do with Bush has charged-up more debt.

Additionally, World War II promissory notes that were issued are now coming due. "

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