being there by David Hochman

FOUR MORE YEARS!! ---- NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Four years ago, the Republicans kept repeating how similar they and the Democrats had become. Humane conservatives (a most wonderful oxymoron) and all that; a wonderful fairy tale that, incredibly, so many swallowed hook, line and sinker. All around me at the time, I remember people saying, why vote, they are so similar, Gore and Bush. Makes no difference whom you vote for.

Are we, as Americans, really so easily brainwashed? I sincerely hope not. At least, not twice. However, four years later, incredulously, I am hearing the same things again. And I can hardly believe my ears.

Arguably, let me say this: had Gore won the elections:

We would not be in an endless hell in Iraq with more soldiers dying each day; with no end in sight, no exit strategy of any kind, with the place falling into anarchy. Radical Muslims achieved what they never thought possible: a war on their turf. Anyone with any military knowledge (or simple common sense) can attest: a war on one's territory is far more winnable against an enemy far away from home, no matter how superior the enemy (think Vietnam).

Environmental laws would not have been repealed and weakened so big business can gain more profits at the expense of our health, safety; and, melodrama aside, no less than the future (and hence our very own) of the earth’s limited resources.

Continuing Clinton’s sensible economic policies, there would not have been the largest annual deficit in U.S. history. And we know where that leads: higher inflation, an inevitable recession sooner rather than later (even now, if the Chinese, our largest creditors, pull the plug tomorrow, we’re doomed), and a generally unhealthy and unstable economy.

The U.S. would not have been removed by the United Nations from the Human Rights Commission; and withdrawn from the World Court of Law.

585,000 jobs may not have been lost.

The enormous tax break for the rich would not have been passed.

And these are just a few issues.

Do we really want four more years of this madness? What will be left? How much more wealth do the rich want to amass? At what expense to the rest of us and the environment? How many more senseless wars will we start? How much more hatred for us in the world do we wish to cause, with allies, present and past, as well as enemies? leading, in turn, to future terrorist acts?

Do you REALLY feel safer? richer? healthier than four years ago? Do you? Do I?

Again, I hear some people trying to convince us there's little
difference between the two candidates. Do they really think us so gullible? So foolish? So happy to be taken for a ride, taken advantage of?

It happened once. For our sake, our children's sake, for the future of our country and the world, I hope I speak for many people: let's not be taken for a ride any longer: let's not let it happen again. Cast your vote; cast it wisely; if not for you, then for your friends, family, children (it is they who will be terrified of traveling abroad, who will never get to live in a world free of terrorism we so long took for granted).

This, too, may seem melodramatic, but it's as simple as that: without your vote, this President will not be removed from office, and his merciless, senseless policies will continue unabated.
This time, there are no excuses. We've seen the alternative. We're being told to ignore it.

One thinks of the simple adage: fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

Let’s not be fooled again.