I would like to thank our Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins for their votes blocking, for now, the president’s energy bill. This bill, while not addressing our over-dependence on the energy oligopoly, which has stolen billions of dollars, frees them to pollute our air and water.

What Republicans give with one hand they take away with the other. The Republicans forced through the Medicare “Destruction” Act, which turns over our Medicare taxes to the health insurance industry.

Seventy percent of the American people believe Saddam Hussein had a part in Sept. 11. Even the president has said that is not true. American corporations have stolen from their shareholders or published false and misleading financial statements. Privatization will let the foxes into the hen house with permission to steal.

Republicans want an end to Medicare, Social Security and health insurance provided by employers. They want to force each individual to buy their own insurance. Ration medical care by price is the Republican answer. They want health care so expensive that the poor and middle class cannot afford it. Costs will be reduced because the poor will be denied care unless they can pay. Not being able to pay, they will die before services are rendered. So the Republican policy, stripped of all its rhetorical niceties, boils down to health care for the rich paid for with the lives of the poor.

Don’t believe me, listen to Fox TV, voice of the Republican Party, for a week.

Jon Albrecht, Dixfield