MAV I'm sick of you flag wavers cursing government out of one side of your face while claiming all of America as your birthright. I'm a socialist, and damn proud of it. I like safe highways, I like a policeman to call if I have trouble and I like being able to petition my government to redress wrongs.

I work hard teaching kids in a Public School, because I believe in the right of all to a good education. I work ten hours a day. I drive an 84 Ford that was given to me rather than take it to a junkyard. I want more time for my children, and like many parents (I meet a few of them in my line of work) I'm stretched to the limit. Not all of us are dot.com millionaires, or would be if we had the choice. It's not independence, its a stinking selfishness like yours that is causing our society to crumble.

I agree that we could do better. We could start by realizing that depriving Blacks the right to vote in Florida is an injustice to all, and a failure of democracy. Then we could go on to look at the ogilarchy that appointed Bush, and ask if it serves the public interest. I pray for the day when we can get another liberal to stand up in the White House and remind us to "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".