Vote, Democrats, future depends on it

Midterm elections traditionally favor the political party that doesn't hold the White House. The reason is pretty simple: the voters of the party in office think they have nothing to vote for and thus they stay home on election day.

This year it is very important to vote if you're a Democrat. The Republican Party thinks any social program means "socialism," which includes your Social Security, Medicare and the new health care reform that was passed that will provide meaningful health insurance to 37 million Americans who did not have it.

During the first 18 months of Obama's first term the Republicans have stood in the way of stimulus money that's helped provide real jobs for millions of Americans. Before President Obama was sworn into office the economy was hemorrhaging jobs at a rate of 750,000 per month, the stock market was in free fall, home foreclosures were rampant and the economists were saying we were on the verge of another depression.

Do you remember how bleak it was then? We can't go back to that. That is exactly where we will be headed if the Republicans are successful in scaring the American people into believing that the Democrats are leading this country in the wrong direction.

Things are not perfect but they are far better than they were. Republicans have opposed loans to small businesses, Wall Street reform and extending unemployment benefits for those out of work. They've called the agreement between the Obama administration and BP to provide $20 billion to the Gulf Coast for the clean up of the oil spill and restoration/compensation for the business that was lost a "shakedown."

Republicans also believe Social Security should be privatized so the money would go into the stock market. We just saw what happened to the stock market at the end of 2008 and early 2009. There is no way I want my Social Security tied to the stock market.

If you want real progress, then vote Democratic on Nov. 2. Your future depends on it.

Bill Sarto

Carpentersville