On April 13, President Bush argued that our country is better off with his administration.

In Maine, the facts are just the opposite. Over the last four years, our paper industry has just about disappeared, as have most manufacturing jobs. Our farmers are not earning enough to pay the cost of production. In March, our bankruptcy court had the highest number of bankruptcy filings in history. Our state budget is strained to the point where we cannot provide a basic level of health care to our poor.

Those of us in the middle class are finding our insurance carriers will not pay for necessary diagnostic tests designed to save lives. We are now facing the second largest increase in gas prices in history. Our children have been sent to fight in Iraq, while al-Qaida is allowed to strike at will throughout the world.

Rather than recognize these problems, our president has told the American people he can think of nothing he has done wrong. Rather than engaging in an honest debate with John Kerry, he has allowed his surrogates to engage in a program of mass distortions of the truth.

For example, daily we are shown a commercial, endorsed by the president, that claims John Kerry wants to raise taxes by $1.7 trillion, when the truth is that, under the plan proposed by John Kerry, taxes will be lowered.

Are we better off under George Bush’s leadership? This reader does not think so.
John M. Whalen, Auburn

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