Life goes on; death too

The Bush administration "cooked" the intelligence to justify invading Iraq. "Faulty" intelligence didn't take us there, lies did. The cost has been tens of thousands of lives, the numbers growing daily.

Now this president is on a five-week vacation at his ranch. He has time for Republican fundraising parties adn to "go on with my life," as he puts it, but no time to speak with Cindy Sheehan, mother of a dead soldier.

A quote in the Waco Tribune-Herald sums up reality in Bush world: "I think the people want the president to be in a position to make good, crisp decisions and to stay healthy," he said when asked about bike riding while a grieving mom wanted to speak with him. "And part of my being is to be outside exercising....so I'm mindful of what goes on around me," Bush added. "On the other hand, I'm also mindful that I've got a life to live and will do so."

Well, live your life, George, while others are losing theirs. No regrets, no empathy, no honesty, no responsibility. Would your exercise regime be an overriding concern if your daughters were fighting in Iraq?

Linda McHenry

Spokane,Wa

The Spokesman Review

Iraq war damages U.S. name

Sandy Clark got one thing right: we need a Marshall Plan for the Middle East ("Iraq was as needed as WWII," Aug 12). Clark forgets about Hitler and Tojo actually having and using menacing weapons and using them. Had Bush been president on Dec. 7, 1941, we'd have likely attacked Spain.

You see, we did go after the source of the attack, only to be diverted on a family grudge. If we were still actively seeking the enemy we'd have been successful by now. All we've done in Iraq is squander our good name and image, along with 1,800 of our children, while manufacturing new terrorists with our heavy-handed bully act.

One thing that should not be dismissed is the fact that bin Laden was providing his own Marshall Plan, and thusly won over many to his cause. Of course, our incursion into Iraq has given him credibility. The world sees us kicking down doors, abusing prisoners, and killing innocents, and we look bad.

Let's not forget who sold the poison gas to Hussein: Rumsfield, and again after he used it. Disgusting!

Bob Amerine

Deer Park, WA

The Spokesman Review

WWII comparison misguided

Two recent letters critical of Rebecca Nappi’s Aug. 6 column (“War in Iraq won’t end with parades”) can’t go unanswered. An Aug. 12 letter stated “this war…is just as necessary and required as WWII” (“Iraq was as needed as WWII”). As a member of the WWII generation, I find that as offensive as it is wrong. Anyone with the slightest knowledge of that war knows better.

The other letter (“War yielding a bright future,” Aug. 13), aside from uncalled-for snipping at Ms. Nappi, gets carried away with praise for this Iraq war’s accomplishments (“The future is bright. Freedom is blossoming, etc.”)

The writer forgot to mention that , by attacking Iraq, we didn’t achieve our president’s mistaken goals of (1) finding all those WMDs and (2) defeating Saddam in retaliation for his part in the 9-11 attack.

But to ask, “Can anyone say that the results (of this war) aren’t worth the price?” is to forget that such judgement can be made only by those who are paying the price: our troops and their families. The rest of us, including our leaders, have paid nothing. (Which, by the way, is in stark contrast to WWII.) Even the dollar cost of this war is being deferred - requiring surviving GIs and their offspring to help to pay for it in future years.

Bob McClure

Post Falls, ID

The Spokesman Review

Slide of city services alarming

Spokane is a mess. The delivery of public services has been in a regrettable state of decline for years, and now that decline seems about to accelerate. And please, let’s not pat anyone on the back for some long overdue paving. I see the death of a good library system, rampaging crime and citizen apathy. Do we even want this city? Or should we give it back to the county?

But if we are serious about keeping our city, we need to elect leaders who are willing to place a sustainable tap on the substantial wealth that is available here in Spokane. Also, current attitudes in Olympia must change.

But it is essential that we do establish an ongoing progressive funding of the city’s public needs. Without a rich public life, we all suffer and invite disaster. The investment the wealthy make to maintain such a public life is actually a reinvestment of what they have reaped from the past. It’s the honorable thing to do. And if those unwilling to pay their fair share for such as a true public safety and a quality library want to leave, I say good riddance. The more worthy will take their place.

Ron Meyers
Spokane, WA
The Spokesman-Review

No vacation for protester

Cindy Sheehan, the mother of Casey, a young soldier who was killed in Iraq last year, is spending the month of August in Crawford, Texas, vacation home of our president (“President passes protesting mother,” Aug 13.) He is on the 50th vacation of his presidency. She is not on vacation. She is working to get answers from our leaders – answers about the war.

It seems clear that the administration is hoping she will not be noticed by the people of the U.S. or the news media, and she will give up and go home. So far, they are wrong. The world is watching, and she is not going to be pacified by the same tired rhetoric that we have heard now, for years.

Our president is not a king. He is answerable to the people. Ms. Sheehan’s questions must be answered. If he is such a strong leader, what can he fear from this woman? How much longer will we tolerate this war? How many more excuses will we tolerate? How much longer will the people allow themselves to made fools of and how many more people – what is the magic number – have to die?

Patty G. Elliot
Spokane, WA
The Spokesman-Review

No action behind pro-war words

There’s a mother camped out near Dubya’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, who wants to know what her son died for (“President passes grieving mother,” Aug 13). George has uttered the usual platitudes, “Noble cause, stay the course, I feel your pain.” No, I guess it was Slick Willie who felt the pain. After a while, the hogwash politicians regurgitate all sounds the same.

And thus, I wonder whether Bush and his war supporters are sincere or hypocritical. For instance, has Bush publicly exhorted his daughters to enlist? Those young ladies couldn’t go overseas: security problems. But they could help.

We all know folks who are big supporters of the war, some young, some old. Few are enlisting or encouraging their kids to enlist. Too dangerous! Forty percent of the citizens still support Bush’s war. The U.S. has 50 million folks ages 17 to 30. That’s 20 million supporters who could enlist. If only half could meet standards, the country would have 10 million war hawks who could serve. If less than 1 percent enlisted, the Army would meet its goal of 80,000 for the year. They won’t. I guess Bushies are hawks as long as someone else does the fighting.

Don Schroeder
Loon Lake, WA
The Spokesman-Review

The president says the economy is really growing. He didn’t mention it was a wartime economy. It is tainted with blood and deficit spending.

David Olson
Spokane, WA
The Spokesman-Review

Quit wasting American lives

This should not be a political issue, but an issue of common sense. How many more deaths have to happen and how many more billions of dollars wasted before citizens, Republican and Democrat, say enough is enough?

President Bush is unbelievable. With that insipid grin, he talks of deaths of U.S. troops in Iraq being for a noble cause. I strongly believe Bush used the 9/11 attack to justify the invasion, knowing most citizens would support him because he was, after all, protecting his country. He knew Americans would be reluctant to question or criticize their government after such an unbelievable attack.

There was not an imminent threat by Iraq to this country. It’s not unpatriotic to not believe every thing your government says. This letter is about supporting the troops and calling for a withdrawal from the quagmire Bush, Rumsfield and Cheney got our troops and this country involved in.

I strongly believe history will prove Bush to be one of the worst presidents this county has suffered. We will be paying for this war in countless ways for many years to come. Let’s bring our troops home before we pay with more American lives.

Chris Powell
Spokane, WA
The Spokesman-Review

Government of the people

We live in a democracy: by, of and for the people. Our leaders believe that our government is designed to fill the greed of large corporate interests, rather than the needs of the citizenry.

They tell us that there is no inflation, despite gas prices at twice what they were a year ago, health care soaring, food going up. They tell us the economy is booming, despite flat exports and a 6 percent increase in imports last month. Jobs are going overseas, instead of products. The economy is good for the very rich. The rest of us are seeing flat or decreasing income and increasing costs.

Who is benefiting from this? Large corporations and the very wealthy. We are funding a war that is increasing terrorism to benefit oil companies. We have "lost" $9 billion in Iraq. The war, they promised, would be paid for by oil revenues. Instead, it is breaking our budget, and compromising our future.

We must elect representatives who will represent us. We must pay attention to what they are doing and kick them out if they aren't meeting our needs. In 2006, let's elect Democrats, then hold them to their promises.

Ann Warwick

Sandpoint, ID

The Spokesman-Review

Bush has time for donors

For days now, Cindy Sheehan has been camped outside of the sprawling Bush compound near Crawford, Texas, waiting to ask Our Dear Leader one simple question: "What is the 'noble cause' that my son and over 1,800 other sons and daughters have died for?" Recently she has been joined by other mothers who have lost sons or daughters in the occupation of Iraq.

Mr. Bush's motorcade drove right past them - headed to a fund-raiser where the "haves and have mores," also known as Bush's base, greeted him with $2 million in contributions to the Republican National Committee ("President passes protesting mother," Aug. 13). I wonder how many of the 200 or so attendees to that soiree had children fighting and dying in the desert half a world away.

Obviously, Cindy and the Gold Star mothers have it all wrong. If you want to get the attention of this president, having made the hardest sacrifice a parent make just isn't enough.

For this president, it's money that talks. If you are not Halliburton, Exxon Mobil, or a Bush Pioneer you aren't worth his time or attention. Just how does he sleep at night?

Ellen Lewis

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman-Review

Soldiers fit the definition

Thank God for the insurgents and terrorists who are now our nation's heroes that gave us our nation. These are the people who signed our Declaration of Independence and eventually gave us our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Thus we should think of insurgents and terrorists as either good or bad, depending on which side we are looking at them.

Our Constitution has been working well for 200 years. Now, unfortunately, if we push too hard to get our given rights, we are now declared un-American in accordance with the Patriot Act, which Congress enacted in a state of hysteria, promoted by the administration after the 911 terrorist attack.

John Gaines

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman-Review

U.S. economy for sale

While walking out this morning and listening to public radio, a commentator gave the latest statistical report on America’s economy. He highlighted the good news of greater than expected job creation in all sectors except manufacturing, which continued its downward spiral. He also pointed to a slight upwards pressure on wages that would likely cause some concern for Alan Greenspan’s Federal Reserve as the sole negative in the numbers.

This is just one more clear sign that the American worker should no longer expect to share in the fruits of increased productivity as he did in the years before the large multi-national corporations bought the media and our government. Ultimately, this short-sighted culture of corporate greed will crush the average American’s ability to support a healthy market economy.

When President Bush thanks our valiant fighting men and women for the sacrifices they are making in a quest for world freedom and democracy, he is really speaking for the Haliburtons of the world, which long ago abandoned loyalty to any single nation. Their freedom to pursue profits regardless of the costs to the American people has become the primary consideration in political decision-making.

Former President Clinton embarrassed the nation with his lies. His successor and his cronies are destroying it with theirs.

John. C. Goldthorpe
Veradale, WA
The Spokesman-Review

No time for vacation

Let's forget for one moment that our troops never found the WMDs in Iraw as was promised by the Bush administration, and that it was only 27 months ago that President Bush stood on the deck of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, standing in front of a large banner declaring "Mission Accomplished".

Just for a short time, let's move past all that.

Instead, let's focus on the 21 dead soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines killed by roadside bombs in the last few days. While all this was taking place, our fearless leader was packing his bags in anticipation of his 33-day vacation at his ranch in Texas, which, by the way adds up to some 319 total vacation days since his term as president.

Hmmm. Maybe George W. Bush ought to spend some of those days offering his condolences, face to face with the mothers and fathers of these fallen soldiers, instead of clearing brush and falling off his bicycle while getting back to his "Texas" roots.

Just a thought.

Ronald Wells

Spokane Valley, WA

The Spokesman-Review

Help preserve roadless areas

The Friends of the Clearwater and Idaho Conservation League need your help to speak up for wild places. Millions of acres of roadless areas are in the hands of western governors to protect or develop.

Adopt an area by visiting it, document your visit and raise awareness about special values or threats with the site. With more than nine million acres of undeveloped land in Idaho alone, you have plenty of unique places to choose from.

Pot Mountain Roadless Area is a roundish-shaped landscape lying like a huge inverted bowl with the North Fork of the Clearwater River at the bottom edge of the bowl.

Wetlands, waterfalls, a large pond, high lakes and about 50 tributaries, many of which start at the higher ridges, flow intothe North Fork. The river, mile after mile, charges the air with its fragrance and energy telling your ears, nose and skin a thousand stories abouthe myriad of places and beings these waters had touched. Let's retain this scene for posterity.

I believe we have an obligation to speak as powerfully for the bull trout and ancient trees that speak no louder as they are being annihilated than they do in health as we speak for our financial selves.

Fred W. Rabe

Moscow, ID

The Spokesman-Review

Tax Big Oil for war

President Bush: I know it is expecting way too much to have you apologize for the irreparable damage you have done to the U.S. economy, but you could atone to the American people somewhat by enacting an excess-profits tax on gasoline and diesel sales.

There is no longer an doubt that this ugly conflict in Iraq is all about oil. Despite your pleas that this is for "Iraqi Freedom," or "fighting the war on terror," it is obvious to anyone with a lick of common sense tht is it totally about protecting Big Oil's interests in the Middle East.

I feel it would be appropriate at this time for you to encourage your Big Oil brothers to contribute tohelp reduce the trillions of dollars in deficits incurred by conducting this immoral and un-called-for war. I challenge you to do the right thing for the American people.

Ray Blowers

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman-Review

Congress ingores people

I would like to extend congratulations to our Congress; it only took them over four years to pass an energy bill, which only benefited large corporations. It did nothing for the average American.

I would like to suggest that we cut Congress' work schedule to six months a year; after all it seems they are on vacation two or three times a year. What a savings! Cut their wages and benefits in half and pay down the national debt.

Seniors, be sure and let your congressional representative know you expect a 10 to 15 percent COLA this year. Don't let them fool you. They are talking 2 to 3 percent inflation.

Gas is twice the price it was two years ago; look at bread, meat, milk, insurance all have increased much more than 2 or 3 percent. Our Medicare costs should be going down; not up; poor management. It is time for Congress to represent the people, not big business.

William Monday

Evans, WA

The Spokesman-Review

Inflation is real

It is an insult ot our intelligence to constantly read and hear our economy has no inflation. The talking head Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve banking committee constantly states there is no inflation. Then Rachel Beck wrote in the Spokesman-Review an article entitled "Inflation fears may be overblown, evidence shows"(Aug. 6) that the price of T-shirts to toys have not realized an uptick in price. These statements are unintelligent.

We have seen our paycheck buying power shrink in the past two years. Everthing that touches our lives has increased in price from housing, medical, prescriptions, food, utility bills, travel, tuition, autos, gas and taxes. Everything necessary in our lives has increased in price. So how can they say there is "no inflation?" Do they not realize what the greed of the oil executives and war has done to our economy? Try to explain to us how oil prices and war cost can increase weekly and not cause inflation?

The talking heads and our government should be honest and tell us eh truth; we do not need the propaganda "all is well" when it is not.

Herschel Stoops

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman-Review

Preserve roadless areas

The best of Idaho's fishing and hunting is found in our vast roadless areas because trophy elk, deer and bighorn sheep and the hunters seek out the solitude and outstanding habitat in those wildlands.

Clean waters coming from roadless wildlands support fantastic wild trout, steelhead and salmon populations both in the roadless areas and downstream where anglers can drive to their favorite waters.

Gov. Kempthorne has until Nov. 13, 2006, to scrutinize 9.3 million acres of existing roadless areas to determine if and where roads should be allowed for logging,mining and other economic development. As hunters and anglers, let's tell the governor that we want the 9.3 million acres of prime fish and wildlife habitat left alone.

As a huner and angler in Idaho's back country, I want our remaining wildlands left unroaded. If you want the same, go to the Web site of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership at www.trep.org to learn how to make your voice heard.

When considering important conservation issues, the TRCP challenges sportsmen to ask themselves, "What would Teddy do?" When it comes to managing our state's roadless areas, Teddy would make darn sure our governor knew exactly what he thought about those special places.

Toom Kovalicky

Retired forest supervisor

Grangeville, ID

The Spokesman-REeview

Heed view from space

Discovery Commander Eileen Collins' report on Thursday was unsettling. She described the widespread environmental destruction on Earth as seen from the shuttle.

Sometimes you can see how there is erosion, and you can see how there is deforestation. It's very widespread in some parts of the world. We would like to see, from the astronauts' point of view, people take good care of the Earth and replace teh resources that have been used."

From Mr. Bush's refusal to sign the Kyoto Treaty to the signing of the energy bill, with its lavish gifts to the oil industry, this administration has assaulted our environment.

I wonder if Discovery Commander Eileen Collins will be given early retirement on her return back to Earth.

Linda Krogh

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman-Review

Religious extremism troublesome

Did anyone else catch the delicious irony in last Saturday's editorial section? On one page you have Jane Eisner's commentary about tolerance and understanding of religion being the key to dispelling myths about Islam (and that applies to other religions, too) ("Ignorance of Islam appalling, foolish," July 30) and a letter to the editor talking about the Ten Commandments and saying "everyone will be judged by God's Law" (God's law the ultimate arbiter).

My question is, which God will we encounter when we go to heaven, or nirvana, or Valhalla, or wherever... the Baptist God, the Jewish God, the Catholic God, the Hindu God, the Buddhist God, the Islamic God or some other deity?

Eisner hit it on the head...we all need to understand and accept each other's beliefs, regardless of what tag we put on them. The problem is not religion, it is extreme intolerant fundamenta views on all sides and a "don't confuse me with the facts, I'm right" attitude.

Ed Simpson

Spokane Valley, WA

The Spokesman-Review

Neocons hold little appeal

I fail to understand why anyone would vote for the neocons. Except for the wealthiest Americans who see their prosperity in the annihilation of the middle and lower classes, whom they can then enslave, voting for this breed of neocons who call themselves Republican is analogous to sitting high on a tree limb while cutting it off the trunk with a chainsaw.

It is often said that voters chose Bush ove Kerry because they could better identify with him. It is said he is the average Joe you can go out and drink a beer with. Personally, I should only be drunk and out of my mind to be able to vote into the White House an average Joe that I can go to a bar and drink beer with. Who in their sound mind would want a beer drinking average Joe for the president of the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the history of mankind?

Hami Abghari

Nine Mile Falls, WA

The Spokesman Review

Good-old-boy network lives

It would appear that the president is taking advice from a past generation of mothers who told us "take the cod liver oil because it is good for what ails you."

Most of our previous presidents filled positions with candidates who were qualified through education and experience. Our current leader seems to feel that being a loyal friend of George W. or inner circle members satisfies the criteria for leadership.

Sending John Bolton to the United Nations is like sending a demolition crew to remodel a house. "Bring it on" strikes again.

Cliff McLean

Coeur d'Alene, ID

The Spokesman Review

All fundamentalists are terrifying

Help me understand religious fundamentalists. As I understand it, three religions came out of the Middle East: Jews, Christians and Muslims. Each has a fundamentalist aspect that says my way or the highway to eternal damnation. These folks feel obliged to kill anyone who worships differently.

Now I have nothing against Christians, Jews or Muslims; still these fundamentalists worry me. A fundamentalist believes that they are absolutely right, without a doubt right, right without tolerance. How can there be peace while these people feel that killing those who disagree with them is acceptable? Each has used bombs against the other, some dropped from planes, some delivered personally. Each calls the other "terrorist."

I think they are all terrorists. They all terrify me. Sadly, one of them sits in the White House. He has declared war on all terrorists; kill them all, no need to understand them, no need to understand what might drive some teenager to surround his/her body with explosives. Hatred breeds hatred, violence breeds violence and only love and understanding will stop this process.

In declaring war, we have closed our minds, excluded all possibility of understanding, and love is left with no voice.

Ed Parker

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman Review

Impeachment too good

Recent news headlines read "Majority believes Bush misled the people." That's a brilliant deduction, "majority." What was your first clue? Were his lips moving at the time?

"Impeachment proceedings" are nearly as preposterous as the conflict in Iraq itself, offering the criminal a friendly "pardon" - opportunity to escape all responsibility, blame and hard-earned punishment that is properly due."

Nothing less than this president's dearly guarded capital-punishment policy is sufficient for the monstrous crimes George W. Bush has committed against every life on Earth. How extremely appropriate it seems for the words "capital" and "punishmente" to have collaborated as cohorts in our society to denote nothing less than "death."

Nevertheless, mere impeachment seems to be the conservatively chosen course. Bush gets off the hook and his overtly covert mission gets accomplished. The mission? Accumulate more capital in one "transaction" than any since the Louisiana Purchase.

Is this a bad thing? If you don't already know the answer to this question, ask your children and/or grandchildren in about twenty years. Those who are still living to respond willmost likely provide some very provocative answers.

Meanwhile, congratulations, America. You took the bait again...or did you? I'm still rooting for you, America. Yay team...

David Kendall

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman Review

Renewable energy ignored

In your July 29 article titled "Energy bill has billions in tax breaks," I was pleased to see extensive coverage of many aspects related fossil fuel industries.

In fact, it was so detailed that you ran out of room to include any relevant information about renewable energies. It is possible that the bill did not include any amendments toward wind or solar energy industries.

It is a shame that The Spokesman Review has overlooked the bigger picture that our government provides billions of dollars more in subsidies to oil corporations than it does to the renewable energy companies. This bill did not help to level the playing field, and neither did The Spokesman Review.

Gabe Shulman

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman Review

Logic of Bolton continued

As expected, President Bush has made the pocket appointment of John Bolton to the U.N. Bolton, who has voiced disdain for the U.N, if you recall, had literally dozens of people show up for his Senate confirmation hearings, voluntarily, to describe him as a "kiss up/kick down" kind of guy, who tried to have underlings fired if they did not provide him with information agreeing with his biases.

Most, if not all, of the volunteers were not liberal hacks, but Republicans who felt it their duty to prevent the nomination, a most unusual occurance.

There is an apparent lack in conservative circles of arrogant and aggravating personnel, requiring Bush to appoint Bolton via the back door, even though he was not received well by the Senate, who held up his confirmation.

Following this logic, I would soon expect a rash of new appointments before the Senate reconvenes.. Here are a few of my predictions: Bill O'Reilly, ambassador to France; the Rev. Louis Farrakhan, ambassador to Israel; Madalyn O'Hair (if she were alive), ambassador to the Vatican; an Irish IRA supporter, ambassador to Great Britain.

D. Neil Fitzgerald

Spokane Valley, WA

The Spokesman Review

Bush increasing wealth gap

President Bush and his Repubican Party have found the answer to all problems facing America. If the economy is bad, tax breaks and subsidies for failing businesses. If the economy is good, tax breaks and subsidies for successful businesses (to create jobs). Ignore our free enterprise system that is to weed out the inefficient and allow the successful to create jobs though private enterprise.

His system increases the economic and social differences between the extreme wealthy and the rest of Americans. He is out of touch with reality. Will George Bush go down in history as the American Marie Antoinette?

Phillip Waring

Coeur d'Alene, ID

The Spokesman Reviw

White House harms security

We are not safe, and we never will be completely safe. This administration, however, continually claims to have made us safer since Sept. 11, despite clear evidence to the contrary.

Steps have been taken to improve our national security. But all those precautions will gain us nothing if White House insiders, in order to discredit investigations that contradict their predetermined stances, vindictively reveal undercover intelligence operatives' identities.

If the intelligence is good, if the position is correct, they don't need to carefully filter the intelligence to slant it towards their point of view - the only picture worth having is a complete picture. That is the only way we can make wise, informed decisions about going to war, something that should never be done unless absolutely necessary, and demonstrated to be necessary by a preponderance of evidence. Such was the case in Afghanistan. Such was not the case in Iraq, and Ambassador Wilson and his wife's inquiry showed this.

Demand accountability for this act. Demand Karl Rove be fired.

Patricia Alberts

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman Review

Another president's quote

Here's a president's quote Eric Webster can add to his list (Selective quotes revealing," July 26).

Ronald Regan, during the Iran-Contra scandal: "We did not, repeat, did not, trade weapons or anything else for hostages, nor will we."

Ken Murray

Pullman, WA

The Spokesman Review

And the rich get richer

In a recently published editorial, USA Today referred to Republican efforts to undermine the estate tax as misleading and inaccurate; they also describe these efforts as a blatant attack on the middle class. Only 1 percent of all Americans, with estates worth many millions of dollars, pay this tax, and that 1 percent represents the corporate and political elite of this country.

Despite scary (and blatantly untrue) Republican propaganda, the Census Bureau reports that not one family farm or business has ever been shut down by having to pay the estate tax. It is interesting to see who benefits from repealing this tax. The Washington Post showed that repealing the estate tax would save President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and 11 of their cabinet members, all extremely wealthy individuals, a total of $344 milllion. Repealing the estate tax will create a new class of super-rich Americans, and the middle class will have to pay the $1 trillion that this move will cost our one-democratic country over the next 10 years.

I was once a middle-class Republican. I will forever be a member of the middle class, but will never call myself a Republican again.

Floyd Bonheur

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman Review