The Republicans have forced the hand of the president and the Democrats. Republicans want tax cuts for the very rich, for millionaires and billionaires, which they have enjoyed for 10 years, due to run out at the end of 2010.

Billionaire Warren Buffett and others said they don’t need it. This was part of Bush’s trickle-down effect. Have you seen it?

The reality is, the problem is the millionaires in Congress — all 237 of them — mostly Republicans and some Democrats who don’t want to give up their tax cuts. So, they hold the middle class and the country hostage to their greed. We can do better than suicide by the Republicans.

Thousands of manufacturing companies have gone overseas. Millions of jobs have been lost, all because of the so-called TRADE Act.

And, Bush wanted us to invest our Social Security money in the stock market. Wow!

Where would the seniors and the future recipients be then?

Just think if there was never a TRADE Act and all manufacturing companies stayed in the United States. America would be doing just fine.

Jobs will be next on the agenda. That will be interesting.

Hold on to your hats.

Jean R. Arsenault, Mexico