Subject: Worthy Tax Increases: Larry why do politicians always assume that raising taxes will lose them votes? If taxes are raised to spread the availability of health care, to help Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, to improve the environment, and certainly to help cut the deficit, I believe I am not alone in supporting such a move. It is patronizing of politicians to assume that Americans are all self-serving, and it shows lack of leadership on the part of the politicians.

RESPONSE: I agree, but the success of Republicans in getting elected with the mantra of lowering taxes and then once in office merely borrowing more money and slopping at the troth for their friends has made cowards of the Democrats. When Republicans make cuts they cut things like health care...the Terri Schiavo issue of grandstanding for this poor woman while cutting the program that is keeping her alive perhaps is beginning to be understood by more people.

As pointed out here often, and I never thought I'd say this; I miss Newt and the contract with America. Note the interview with our Washington Republican stooge; frank THE HYPOCRITE lobiondo in The Press yesterday. When Repulicans stood for a balanced budget he signed the contract and now when Republicans stand for massive debt he is on that band wagon; defending the hypocrisy and voting to cut Medicaid and to save Terri, defending the gutting of Social Security and lying to residents that there won't be cuts in the program with the President's plan...this when economists say that privatization will bring cuts to seniors' Social Security. Loyalty, cowardliness or stupidity...THE HYPOCRITE has it all. Time to put this useless piece of cargo back on a truck headed to Vineland.