I admit he has some valid points concerning the economy, namely that the current Republican leadership, particularly President Bush, has abandoned the party's role as defenders of limited government and fiscal responsibility. However, Bush is not running for office, as Mr. Hayes admits.

I take issue with Mr. Hayes' framing of the health care debate, calling for justice in health care coverage. I would like to examine some of his statistics. Like many Democrats, he cites a study that the U.S. lags behind other nations in various health care indicators. I presume he is referring to a World Health Organization study conducted in 2000.

What many Americans do not know is the actual indicators used, as well as the political motivation of the director of that study. Jim Peron wrote an article in the November issue of The Freeman that exposed this slant: the director of the study, Gro Harlem Brundtland, was an avowed socialist. She believed that government bore the ultimate responsibility for health care, and docked points from systems that did not therefore meet that standard. In other words, the study was rigged (found online at www.fee.org).

I think everyone, Republicans and Democrats, would like to see quality health care for all Americans. The issue is, who's better prepared to make it happen: The government or free market competition? As John Stossel points out, the medical practices that are cutting costs and providing more options are the areas where competition is wide open, like corrective eye surgery.

Mr. Hayes also claims pride in a party "whose policy positions reflect the love for neighbor ... preached in church each Sunday." He's presumably glad that the Democrats want to "give" health care to every American.

Let's be honest: Calling for government to answer all of our problems is not the same thing as calling for voluntary sacrifice. The government can punish me for not acquiescing to its demands. Is it "just" or even "charitable" for the Congress to forcibly take from one party in order to give to another? I'd be much more impressed if our representatives gave away their own money instead of someone else's.

While Democrats are calling for fiscal responsibility, they are also calling for new programs to expand government's reach. The only way, therefore, that Democrats can be fiscally responsible is to radically raise taxes, which all economists agree will put a drain on the economy. I guess then we'll have to "do more" to stimulate the economy by further taking from one group to give to another.

I am galled by the refusal to perceive the unintended consequences of economic policies, as well as by semantics that hide the reality of what government does. I hope Georgia voters will think long and hard, not about what sounds good, but what will happen if certain policies are enacted. Then they can truly make an educated choice about the next leader of our country.

State must address highway fatalities
How many people were killed on Georgia highways in vehicular crashes in 2006? How many were injured? What was the economic cost not to mention pain and suffering?

The latest Georgia traffic statistics show there were 1,703 deaths and 133,400 injuries at a cost of nearly $7.8 billion. Where is the outrage? What are Governor Perdue, Lt. Gov. Cagle and our senators and representatives doing to reduce this deadly toll?

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety and State Patrol are dedicated and working to improve highway safety. The state patrol is seriously short of the budget required to attack this problem. When is the last time you saw a state trooper issuing a ticket to a car or truck?

Local officers are handicapped by the Lester Maddox era law that requires a motorist to be 10 miles per hour over the speed limit to be stopped. State patrolman are not handicapped by this law.

Before you read The Times tomorrow, on average, five more people will die and 365 will be injured. These crashes may be you and your family. Think about that when you say "goodbye."

If you want to avoid death or injury as well as reduce emergency room utilization and economic loss plus lower your gas consumption, slow down, stay alert (forget the cell phone, radio, etc.), and do not drink and drive.