Texas Gov. George W. Bush insists that he can spend less of the federal surplus on education, health care, military defense, debt reduction and environmental protection, and greatly improve them all, but still get rid of the money.

Those spooked by the thought of a return to voodoo economics might cry out, “Woe, oh woe is me, are we not all bound to be cast once again into a deep pit of economic deficit?” The answer is no, not all of us.

The Texas governor plans on putting a huge chunk of the surplus into the pockets of the wealthiest beneficiaries of our system. You ask, what might this cost the rest of us?

Well, if hardheaded conservatives like Reagan and elder Bush could leave us a tax on our future that runs into trillions of dollars, just think what a compassionate conservative like the younger Bush might be able to do. Been there, done that? Me too, and I will vote for Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Al Gore.

Sam Osborne
West Branch, Iowa