What Are You Voting For?

To the Editor:

If you plan to vote for George Bush, you need to be aware that you will be voting for a neoconservative ideology. The proponents of this radical political philosophy are experts at disguising their intentions with Orwellian rhetoric, but their actions expose their true beliefs.

Two main tenets of neoconservatism are starving the government of money, to prevent any new “welfare state” programs such as improved health care, from being enacted, and lavishly rewarding supporters, to assure continued donations. These two policies were embodied in Bush tax cuts that favored the wealthiest Americans and led to record deficits of over $400 billion (2003 fiscal year). They were also apparent in the award of a no-bid, taxpayer funded, billion-dollar contract to Dick Cheney’s former company, Halliburton.

Unfortunately, these realities are being obscured by the mistaken belief that Bush can defend our great country better than John Kerry, a combat veteran. Before you buy this well-funded neoconservative propaganda, you should consider what our military leaders and our primary Middle East ally, all generals, have to say. Generals Schwarzkopf and Clark, former NATO supreme commander, indicated their distrust of Donald Rumsfeld’s military leadership before and during the Iraqi war, and General Zinnie, successor to Schwarzkopf as head of US Central Command, said if he were responsible for the current mess in Iraq, he would resign. General Musharraf of Pakistan said the American invasion of Iraq helped Al Qaeda recruit new terrorists and generally increased their influence throughout the Muslim world. Do you really believe that made America safer?

Bill Meiners

5 Tory Lane, Newtown                                                October 27, 2004