another sign that the Bush administration is out of touch with American workers

The Bush administration announced Monday that sending U.S. factory and white-collar jobs to other countries is part of a positive transformation that will enrich the U.S. economy over time. (Los Angeles Times)

Brave talk.

With any luck, the many thousands of Americans who have found themselves out of work over the past three years will see the folly in that statement and cast their votes in November. A significant portion of those workers have been out of work for over a year, some for over two years. Many of the ones who have found work are earning significantly less than they used to, which not only hurts them but greatly reduces their ability to contribute to the U.S. economy via taxes and purchases.

The percentage of eligible voters who actually cast ballots has been falling for some time; this is why the Conservatives have been able to take control of our government. Our only chance to take back our nation is for the public to start voting again!

My daughter will be 18 in time for the November elections. She decided on her own that she will vote Democratic, and she is doing her best to rally her friends to do the same. Many will choose not to vote, of course; they will take the "my vote won't make a difference" excuse in order to duck their national duty.

I made that mistake once - in 1980. It was snowing heavily and I didn't feel like going out; we ended up with Ronald Ray-gun for the next eight years. Sure, my single vote wouldn't have changed that election, but how many other people copped out the way I did? And how many others have done so since?

If you are proud to be an American, do your duty. Vote. Of course, if you live in Florida as I do, you may have questions regarding whether your vote will be correctly counted. And if you vote on a Diebold machine, no matter where you are, your suspicions would likewise be valid. Nevertheless, vote. And if it's a Diebold machine, vote often. Chances are it won't notice.