We have heard, over and over again, that this is the most important presidential election in our lifetime, but how many of us have thought about what that statement really means? What will it mean to the world, our nation, and our families if George W. Bush is re-elected and has four more years in office? What if, instead, John Kerry becomes our president? Will it make any difference? YES, IT WILL.

When George W. Bush became president, the nation had a surplus as far as the eye could see. President Bill Clintonys wise stewardship of our nationls financial resources had resulted in turning around a deficit that had been growing enormously under the previous President Bush and even earlier under President Reagan, and he and the Democrats turned it into a surplus. What happened when George W. Bush took office? He passed an unwise tax cut for starters and, before we knew it, our nationrs surplus had become the worst deficit in American history. And who s going to have to pay that deficit? It will be our children and our grandchildren. Does anyone of us in any family want to burden our grandchildren for our foolish spending habits? Of course not. Yet this is precisely what George W. Bush has done. Imagine what a financial mess he will be able to make if given four more years.

When Democrat Bill Clinton was president, he received thunderous welcomes anywhere he traveled in the world. Under his leadership and that of most previous American presidents, the United States was admired for the good it was doing throughout the world. On 9/11 the terrorists slammed airplanes into the Twin Towers in New York, and the world responded with heartfelt sympathy and support. Today, our president can not travel anywhere without facing huge protests. What happened? George Bush alienated the world by telling it that it either had to agree with his preemptive and unilateral invasion of Iraq or be considered irrelevant. It had to buy into his ill-conceived foreign policy or be considered unfriendly to the United States. Previous presidents dealt with disagreement through diplomacy. George Bush has not used diplomacy to win over others, he has arrogantly told them they are wrong and better get out of the way. The result is an Iraqi crisis that goes from bad to worse. Imagine what a foreign policy mess, George W. Bush will be able to make if given four more years.

Talk to teachers about the so-called No Child Left Behind and its underfunding, ask veterans who have been injured in combat or simply need the medical care they were always promised, take a look at the depleted air and water and forest standards, consider what gas is costing you at the pump and imagine what gas, and propane, and electricity will cost this winter. Look at where we are as a country, and just imagine what a further mess George W. Bush will be able to make if given four more years.

We can not let this happen. John Kerry was an early supporter of a balanced budget; he will reach out to other world leaders; he will fulfill the promise to veterans that they deserve; he will make sure education bills are funded as promised; he will insist that our society adheres to proper environmental standards; and he will make sure we pay a fair price for our energy needs.

We must elect John Kerry so our nation can get back on the right track again. This is the most important election of our lifetime. Our world, our nation, and we ourselves can not afford four more years of chaos. VOTE FOR KERRY-EDWARDS, and make sure your family and friends do the same. Let people know how you feel, and you will be pleased to learn how many people agree with you.