This is a bit delayed due to my limited access, but in light of the comments made by the left about why people didn't vote for them, I would like to hit some more high points. I will try not to repeat the points from my earlier post.

First of all, my dislike for Bush is one of the worst kept secrets on the internet. But just as equally poorly kept is my stance as a Libertarian. While I would not and did not vote for Bush, the latter stance makes it highly unlikely I will ever vote for a Democrat in this lifetime. I have seen them grow program after program, proposing more and more oversight "for the good of the American people". These programs have become increasingly intrusive at a cost that is significantly higher than it would be in the private sector. In addition, these programs have, in essence, guaranteed FEWER liberties for the American people.

When this country was founded, individual liberty was a given common right that the settlers strove for. Nobody wants to spend their life as a slave, whether it be to a plantation owner or to a "state". Most people want the autonomy to make personal decisions, even when the decisions carry with them certain consequences.

As one who has spent my life marching to the beat of a different drummer, I have had to take extra measures to protect my personal liberties. A move to another state must be preceded with intense scrutiny of that state's homeschool laws, and questioning of groups within the state as to how rigidly the state attempts to enforce or overenforce their laws. The fact that we choose not to vaccinate our children means that, to satisfy the laws of many states, we must carry a written statement of our perssonal religious creed to avoid accusations of neglect, and BOTH ofn the aforementioned positions mean we must keep our home as clean as possible and our pantry well stocked lest some antagonistic meddler takes personal umbrage with our way of living and file an anonymous report with the state child protective services (if you don't have a certain amount of food in the house, subject to the whims of the investigator, they have been known to remove the children under allegations of neglect. It can take months, sometimes years, of proving one's innocence without the right to representation, before one can regain their children, and they will remain under scrutiny until the children turn 18).

Add to this the fact that money is taxed with tax after tax after tax, and I am inclined to vote for as much of a small government candidate as I can find.

In addition, many liberals want federal oversight over issues that should be and remain with the states. Different states have different values and needs, and should not feel as though they are being ordered around by bureaucrats from the wealthy cities. A quick examination of the electoral map shows that many Republican supporters live in rural areas, where certain values are more pervasive than the values you often find in the bigger cities. I have always possessed those rural values, and should not have to apologize for that.

I sympathize with the desire of the liberals for an America of equal opportunity. I sympathize with your desire to end the blight and crime that are so often the birthright of inner city children. Your intentions are not wrong. However, your methods are suspect, at best.

Respectfully submitted,

Gideon MacLeish