Letter: Democrats must put brakes on GOP plans

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005 | 7:30 a.m.

When one looks and listens to the Republican agenda as articulated by President Bush and members of the Republican-controlled Congress, you can come to only one conclusion. That conclusion can only be summed up in the statement, "Survival unto the richest and let the poorest scramble for the scraps."

Bush's speaking tour may help resolidify his base and raise his approval rating, but that alone is not going to get it. There seems to be little caring for anyone who does not own a home with a swimming pool and a four-car garage with a Bentley, Jaguar and a Rolls-Royce. That leaves a jungle out there, fighting for mere survival, Christ's proclaimed, "least of my brethren."

With the mishandling of the war in Iraq and the economy, there is talk among the pundits that the Democrats might have a chance in 2006 to regain control of Congress, where they can put the brakes on the Bush agenda.

The problem with that is the Democrats are going to have to make some tough decisions. Those decisions may cost them in the long run.

They will be handed a real tub of worms. Among others, the extraction from the war in Iraq, a military with too many commitments around the world, a ballooning national debt, the ever increasing negative imbalance in foreign trade and the abandonment of the least of our citizens.

The results may mean that the Democrats will fail as the pressure from the rich in the country can taint their efforts, thus putting brakes on their effort for a balance between the rich and the poor.

Ray Harbert

Las Vegas