Editor:

In response to Nick Mandis, of Casper, and his letter in Sunday's, Aug. 24, Casper Star-Tribune:

He states we have much more money in our pockets under Bush than when Clinton was in office.

Let's check the facts. Under Clinton we had a surplus, the first since 1972. We had Welfare reform. Food and utilities were affordable; gas was on average $1.73 per gallon. We had jobs and people weren't losing their homes. A bit higher taxes, but a strong economy and a balanced budget.

Under Bush: a huge defense bill in an ill planned war, $4 per gallon gas, food 70 percent higher, utilities 50 percent to 70 percent higher, people losing their homes and jobs by the day. A credit crisis. His first year in office, he blew our surplus clear out of the water. Is this the GOP's idea of fiscal responsibility?

The GOP is and always has been for the rich. They protect the big corporations of this country. Halliburton alone gave the GOP $1.3 million in political contributions in 2006! Could that be why they are in Iraq making billions on our tax dollars?

With the Dems in charge we can afford to live in America! So with that being said, do we truly have much more money in our pockets?

TRACI MATHIAS, Casper