Troubled times demand leadership

These are troubled times, perhaps the most troubled financial times since the Great Depression.

A financial panic, brought on by eight years of excess, poor governance and lousy execution on Wall Street and in Washington.

I think by now all Americans understand that there are going to be consequences for these actions led by a Republican Congress and White House.

All Americans that is, except the House Republicans and John McCain.

Republicans in the House, strings being pulled by McCain, failed us all by rejecting the (original) financial relief plan.

If there was ever any doubt that McCain would bring four more years of dysfunctional, partisan political non-leadership, then those doubts were dispelled by his actions regarding the financial mess we are in.

While our 401k plans evaporate, our homes are lost to bad mortgages and our jobs disappear, McCain would rather play the blame game than pass a bipartisan plan for recovery.

Barack Obama has shown real leadership in this crisis.

Obama has reached across the aisle to work with Secretary Paulson, Ben Bernake, others in the administration and the leadership of his own party in a true bipartisan effort to provide financial relief to America.

He has spoken to America with confidence and self-assurance to calm and reassure us all.

This is the kind of leadership we really need. This is the change we are looking for.

Stephen J. Harshman

Schaumburg