In his State of the Union address, President Bush stated that he believed it the duty of the chief executive to make sure U.S. citizens were free of fear. Yet the fear-mongering increases.

Vice President Cheney says that if the United States does not act against Iran, Israel definitely will. Secretary of State Rice cites Iran’s terrible human rights record and says action against Iran “is not on the agenda at this time.”

President Bush campaigns for private-personal retirement accounts that reduce the money available to pay for benefits by erroneously claiming that Social Security will be bankrupt in 2042. He submits a budget that reduces farm subsidies, heating oil assistance for the elderly and low-income citizens, and reduces aid to education, among many serious reductions in programs aimed at reducing anxiety and fear.

He tells the Congressional Black Caucus he knows nothing about the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Am I fearful? Yes, more than I was when Khrushchev, Breshnev or Saddam Hussein were in power.

Timothy K. Priestly, Auburn