I agree with you on the home mortgage reduction plan. Unbelievable. Not only is it equivalent to welfare, it is just ripe for fraud. The problem is that Senator McCain has the “inside-the-beltway” mentality and doesn’t even know what is going on in the lives of regular people. One of the best things he could have done as a senator during the recent bailout is to force the banks to give something back to the people, especially those who don’t have mortgages, but will be paying for the bailout. Does he even realize that the banks are now charging up to 33% interest on credit cards. That used to be known as usury. He could have tied the bailout to the banks lowering their maximum rate to 18% and getting rid of ATM fees. This is something everyone can understand. Another opportunity is approaching with talk of the new stimulus package creation. The Democrats are not thinking of the little guy at all, but only special interest concerns. The Republicans are sort of thinking of him, but not to the extent that would make any short term change for the upcomming Christmas buying season. Why not return to the old tax code provision for two years that allowed us to deduct our credit card (and other) interest payments from our taxes. I don’t quite understand how funding alternative sources of energy is going to help the economy in the immediate future, which is where the problem is. Just some food for thought.

Eugenia