When George W. Bush became president, he took hold of that same mantle: less government, tax breaks for the wealthy, capitalism and free markets dismantling government oversight.  He too broadened his governmental powers and took us back to the era of immense national debt.  Along with those things, he lied to the American people about WMD and led us to war.  He has illegally spied on Americans, suspended Habeas Corpus, the right to a free trial, and has manipulated the judicial system to assure a control of judges. George W. Bush has violated the Constitution to such an extent, that Jonathan Turley, a Constitutional expert from George Washington University, claims that he has usurped our system of checks and balances, putting the government on a slippery slope of unparalleled executive power.  Ben Franklin is probably turning over in his grave.

Now, along comes John McCain as a presidential candidate who supports Bush on the economy and war,  and is taking up the same mantle.  McCaine admits he knows little about the economy and relies much on Phil Gramm who was the chief architect for dismantling government oversight of housing and energy.  Remember ENRON!  Now we're in a Housing crisis, and Phil Gramm says the economic woes of the present are in our head.  If we elect McCain, we will have more of the same: the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer, and the middle class disappearing.

John Mc Cain believes that the war in Iraq is the real front on terrorism, although everyone knows that Al Quaeda was and remains strongly  based in Afghanistan. We will continue spending billions a month on Iraq which has a corrupt government and can't account for its spending.  John McCain claims the surge is working because more troops have quelled violence.  That's a no-brainer!  More might will alway quell violence until you remove it.  The surge didn't work because its purpose was to quell violence in order to help the Iraqi government get soundly established.  That didn't happen!

Each time I listen to McCain assert he is the better choice for the American people, I can't help but to wonder better choice for which American people?  Certainly not for working people!  He's ready to turn social security over to private investors, a disaster when our sliding economy has become dependent on China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and other foreign investors.  Certainly not for soldiers and vets!  He votes against educational benefits for the military, and is willing to continue spilling American blood so that oil investors can claim rights to Iraqi oil fields.  (That has actually happened.- so much for Bush-McCain statements about helping the Iraqi people.)  Certainly not for people seeking relief from health care costs!  He has no real plan to alleviate the staggering costs of health care.

Some journalists remember the McCain of old, and continue to use his self-described term “maverick.” No maverick here!  Perhaps he lost his independent spirit when his opponent, George Bush maligned his reputation in South Carolina during campaign, 2000.  Now he is of the same mind, if you can't beat them, join them!  He actively sought the support of Rev. Hagee who refers to the Catholic Church as the great hoar!  He once said the religious right are predators of free thinkers.  Now he courts them.  He reversed his previous opposition to tax breaks for the wealthy, and now wants to make them permanent!  Who will benefit from a McCain presidency?  The same ole wealthy class while America falls deeper into financial dependency!

I started wondering why people make government synonymous with dirty.  The government of the USA is supposed to protect our rights and freedoms, use taxes for the common good, and restrain tyranny through three responsible arms of government. I guess government has become a dirty word for many people because they no longer see a government of, by, and for the people.  Instead, they see tricks played by elected officials on a trusting American public!

Virginia Lynch Graf, D. Min.