To All Voters

George Bush has been in office for seven and a half years. The first six the economy was fine. Okay, he's president but he is not the dictator of what occurs in the U.S.A. We have a "checks and balance" system: Congress, Supreme Court, president. A little over a year ago, consumer confidence stood at a two and a half percent higher, regular gas sold for $2.19 a gallon, the unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, the Dow Jones hit a record high of 14,000-plus, Americans were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations overseas and living large.

But, America wanted change, so in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yes, we got change all right! In the past year consumer confidence has plummeted, gas is now over $4 a gallon and climbing, unemployment is up to 5.5 percent (10 percent increase,) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 trillion and prices are still dropping. One percent of American homes are in foreclosure, the Dow is probing another low, and $2.5 trillion has evaporated from their stocks, bonds and mutual funds investment portfolios. Yes, in 2006 American voted for change and we sure got it.

Remember the president has no control over any of these issues, only Congress, and what has Congress done in the last two years? Absolutely nothing, except create this so-called crisis. Now the Democratic candidate for president claims he is going to really give us change, along with a Democratic Congress. Just how much more "change" do you think you can stand?

Eleanor Van Wie
Avon Park