GEORGE W. BUSH FOR PRESIDENT

Election day is nearly upon us. Have we made up our minds? Does everyone yet know who they're going to vote for? We will soon find out. With the polls changing daily, there is only one final poll that we can all believe. That poll will be taken election day.

George W. Bush stands for American values. He can free us from the bad example set forth by our current president, and lead us with dignity and honor.

He offers progressive ideas on the tax structure, social security and medicare. His opponent, Al Gore, wants to keep the status quo: 1) An unnecessarily over-complicated tax code which keeps most of the control over our lives in Washington. 2) An antiquated social security system which always has a projected bankruptcy date because of the aging population. 3) More government funding for a prescription drug program under Medicare without considering private sector options.

Here are the alternatives under a Bush presidency: 1) A flatter, more evenly distributed tax code based more on percentage of income earned rather than being based on lifestyle choices (e.g. marriage, college, etc.). 2) A social security system that provides today's workers a chance of getting a better rate of return through private investments which they could own. 3) Private sector funding for prescription drugs under medicare.

Al Gore and the Democrats want to keep the surplus in Washington. George W. Bush and the Republicans want to give it back to the people. This is the fundamental difference between our two parties in a nutshell. Republicans want the people to have the choices. Democrats want the government to decide for us.

We have to worry about our money. Do we need to worry about our rights, too?

Al Gore, whether he knows it or not, wants to take the first step toward disarming private citizens with gun laws that would restrict our Second Amendment rights. I've seen this tactic used to change the drinking age, restrict cigarette smoking and make us wear our seatbelts. It starts out by saying "oh, we're only going to make a few changes: waiting periods, trigger locks and classifying certain types of guns as no good." Mark my words, that's what the seat belt people said when they said "oh, we're only going to make it a secondary offense." States today are now toying with, and some approving the right of police officers to pull people over for no other reason than seatbelts (making it a primary offense). Rolling back a rug requires making that first roll.

Al Gore and the Democrats want to defend the right to abortion. George W. Bush wants all Americans to respect life and reduce the incidences of abortion. George W. realizes that Roe V. Wade is not going to be overturned by a secret agenda or litmus tests ready for potential appointments to the Supreme Court. He believes that as free citizens, good people can agree to disagree on the issue. He hopes that eventually more people will embrace the respect for life needed to make abortion less popular. George W. Bush respects the will of the people. Leading by example is going to be his tactic. You won't see strong arm and slick Clintonian political strategies.

Convinced yet? It's about our money. It's about our rights. It's about our view of liberty. Who do we trust? Do we entrust "We The People" or do we entrust the government with how we spend and how we behave.

The founding fathers were very leery of big government. Don't you agree?