Washington is broken. Eight years ago George W. Bush promised smaller government, fiscal discipline, deficit reduction and a return to states' rights. Yet, despite of having full Republican control over the Congress for most of his administration, he has failed to achieve any of these goals.

The federal government is the largest and most intrusive it has ever been. Deficits are at record levels, the economy is in shambles, unemployment and inflation are rising and states are being inundated with more regulations and unfunded mandates than ever.

Our economy has been virtually destroyed. Banks are failing and jobs are being shipping overseas. We have record high gas and home heating oil prices and our infrastructure is falling apart. Yet this administration's only response is to use taxpayer money to bail out Wall Street to the tune of $1 trillion. The last time we saw economic conditions like these was during the Great Depression.

We need new thinking, new policies and a new direction. I'm excited that this year I will have a chance to vote for something other than that status quo. I'm voting for Barack Obama and Jeanne Shaheen.

MARC ALBERT

Deering