I read recently that President Bush has increased federal spending by more than 20 percent (19 percent if you exclude defense spending) while seeking to make permanent his disastrous and costly tax cuts for the wealthy.

I don’t know much about economics, but I do know that if you increase your spending while decreasing your income, you’re apt to find yourself with a deficit, and that’s where we are, thanks to Mr. Bush’s irresponsible economic policies.

As most people will remember (although the Republicans would like to forget), President Clinton left this country with a very substantial surplus. It has taken this president and his cronies only four years to completely fritter away that surplus. In fact, this so-called “conservative” has created the largest budget deficit in the history of the United States: $422 billion. And they talk about “tax and spend” Democrats.

Mr. Bush is a “no-tax-and-spend-anyway” Republican who thinks nothing of rewarding his wealthy base with giant tax cuts that will have to be paid for by our children.

That is the height of irresponsibility and cynicism.

I don’t think the United States can survive four more years. Let’s make it just two more months.

Paul F. Macri, Lewiston