Start Electing Candidates Who Serve the People

Reps. Frank LoBiondo and Jim Saxton once again choose President Bush's tax agenda over the people of South Jersey. Their recent votes on tax cuts guarantee that those with a million-dollar income will save almost $43,000 a year through 2010, while a family earning $43,000 saves less than $50. Cuts in the alternative minimum tax, which Congress should tie to the cost of living, were only extended through this year. Furthermore, the oil companies received tax breaks worth $4.3 billion, while Congress denied American parents a deduction of up to $4,000 on college tuition. Are oil companies with record breaking profits worthier of tax breaks than working families who are educating their children? Bush says his tax cuts lead to increased home ownership (mostly second homes or rural mobile homes), low unemployment (lost good paying jobs replaced by lower paying ones), and rising incomes (true for executives but not for most workers). Many respected economists say the economy's growth is paltry when considering that with the enormous costs of the Iraq war added to the extensive tax cuts it should be booming, as it historically has during wartime. In addition, the public debt is nearly $9 trillion and rising, a number hard to comprehend but a debt that will be left to our children. Since our president is more concerned with appearances than reality and Congress has abdicated its oversight obligations, this fall we must elect candidates whose allegiance is to us, not George W. Bush. That is our only hope for returning sanity to Washington. Bettie J. Reina, Milmay, Originally published May 31, 2006 in The Daily Journal

Bush Turned Iran Against the U.S.

Iran's large population of young and middle-class people were moving toward rapprochement with the United States. They had a moderate president and wanted to rebuild a relationship - until President Bush named Iran a member of the "axis of evil."Voila - there was instant anger and complete cessation of any move toward friendly relations. The reaction was natural, and since Bush doesn't believe in diplomacy, the country turned against us. It was a gift to Iran's mullahs, who had been losing power.We may stand at Iran's borders, but Iranian officials know that our military is overextended. We are unable to invade anyone.And when Bush says that Democrats are at war with our country, it's insulting and dishonest. We have a constitutional right and a responsibility to disagree with officials in our government who do damage to our nation.

BETTIE J. REINA

Buena Vista Twp.

Letter published in Press of Atlantic City, May 1, 2006