Mr. Salama’s remarks of Oct. 2 strategically forget several important points. First, it was a Republican-controlled Congress during Clinton’s term that created the mechanism for the surplus. Secondly, it is a Democrat-controlled Congress that for the last two years has garnered the dubious honor of being the lowest approved Congress in history. Specifically, their strategy has been doing nothing before the presidential election would bolster their candidate’s chances. This clearly shows their desire to put politics ahead of people.

Gas was $1.87 when Democrats took office, Mr. Salama. So to attempt to blame Republicans is at best hypocritical. Mr. Salama also points to wars that were voted for by Democrats, and funding has been maintained with Democrat support. Coincidentally, these “wars” have done much to secure the safety of the American people, and history will regard them as such.

The issues with the banking industry have less to do with deregulation than the Democrats’ desire to “buy” votes by pandering to the out-of-reach dreams of people who could afford a $100,000 home, but bought a $300,000 home. Clinton coerced the lending industry to make more high-risk loans, knowing full well these people would not be able to pay them back. But when McCain sponsored a bill to rein in Obama’s financial adviser, Franklin Raines, the Demcorats blocked this, even after Mr. Raines made $90,000,000 in such a short time, likely due to Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and Barack Obama’s need to pay Freddie Mac back for substantial campaign contributions.

Clearly, this good ol’ boy system does little to represent the “change” that is so prominently mentioned in regards to Obama. I submit that voting Democrat would surely destroy any chance of returning to the prosperity that we have enjoyed. The American economy cannot stand a $1 trillion tax hike as Obama has proposed. 85 percent of all small business will be hit hard by this plan, and will reduce work forces, and scale back local investments. In comparison, corporations don’t worry about taxes because they just pass them to you and I, in a sense doubling our burden. By putting country first, it is necessary to remove politics from the equation. Democrats have shown that this is something that they cannot do. For those who remember the economy of Jimmy Carter, many of whose advisers are on the Obama team, surely you do not want a return to this economic malaise. This is not change; this is business as usual. Help America become the best it can be. Vote Republican.

— Charles Plato, Columbia

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