In a week, we will be voting for our congressional representatives. The stakes are high. The outcome would likely determine whether or not the policies that produced a robust economy will be reversed, and whether or not the ways and means employed by the administration to fight terror will be tamed.
There are other issues that matter, of course, like immigration and defense of traditional marriage. But it is really taxes and security that have direct and immediate impact to most people.
Pres. George W. Bush came into office in
2001 inheriting an impending recession. Less than a year in office, the 9/11
terrorists struck. The economy was reeling in shock.
In his first term, Pres. George W. Bush
successfully pushed Congress to enact legislation providing for tax cuts to put
more spending money in the pockets of taxpayers and also remove thousands of
low income citizens from the taxpayers’ rolls. Most Democrats predicted doom
and gloom. The present economic realities now tell us they were wrong.
The tax cuts that took effect in 2003 was
followed by economic growth rate averaging 3.5 percent, higher than the
averages for the 1980s(3.1) and 1990s (3.3). Government revenues increased by
14% in 2004 and 11% in 2005. It produced the highest number of home ownerships
even for minorities. It propelled Wall Streets numbers to the roof, with the
Dow Jones hitting more than 12,000 for the first time in history. The
current unemployment rate of 4.6 is lower than the average for the 1990s (5.8).
It is a measure of the strength of the
economy that it was able to wither the effects of the spike in gas prices and
the destruction caused by hurricane Katrina.
The present Democratic leadership has
signaled their intentions to reverse the Bush tax cuts which were recently
extended to 2010 if they take control of Congress. That is something that will
have a direct hit to our pocketbooks. Will you let the Democrats take more of
your gas money?
On another front, we have to deal with
the issue of our security for there is no prosperity without security.
Notwithstanding the failure to find
weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the war has removed a tyrant who was just
biding his time to resume his nuclear weapons program. America could have faced
another nuclear hot potato in Iraq more dangerous than Iran or North Korea had
sanctions been lifted on Saddam’s regime.
By their words and actions, the Al Qaeda
terrorists have chosen to take a stand in Iraq. The fight against a fanatical
movement that is determined to destroy our way of life is going to be long and
hard and will continue to be violent. When America must use force to stop a
suicidal enemy, we must be prepared to accept unsightly consequences.
The constant dose of TV footage covering
violence and death in Iraq has taken a toll on the popularity of the President
according to the polls. I fear that people’s natural revulsion to violence could cloud a rational
debate on the best course of action to fight a war where losing could put us in
a dire peril.
While the administration may change
strategies and adapt tactics according to the conditions on the ground, it
cannot pack its bags before a legitimate Iraqi government is strong enough to
enforce its will. Many Democrats are now calling for a pull out. It would not
promote our security to precipitously leave Iraq lest it becomes another
Afghanistan during the rule of Taliban.
Iraq or no Iraq, the fight against
terrorism will pester us for years. The Bush administration has resorted to
electronic eavesdropping and monitoring of financial transactions of suspected
subjects to discover evil conspiracies before they become mournful tragedies in
our homeland. The administration also fought for the passage of an aggressive
Patriot Act to give our law enforcement and intelligence agents the necessary
and effective tools to do their jobs.
I do not question the patriotism of those
who opposed and criticized the methods approved by the administration in the
war on terror. I am just afraid that their intelligence timidity would
emasculate our intelligence agents and prevent them from connecting the dots
that could unmask a horrible plot.
This election is more than just about
Sen. George Allen or Jim Webb. It’s really about voting to keep our tax cuts or
let government take more bites of our gas money. And which party is
willing to go the extra mile to protect America? Which party is willing
to resolve doubts with respect to aggressive intelligence methods in favor of
protecting the nation and keeping us safe?
I will vote Republican.
