Kudos on the editorial from Lee Hamilton on "The 10 Commandments of Citizenship explained. "The timely article is a welcome reminder that our 'republic' form of government vs. 'representative democracy' as stated in the article is at all times in peril of becoming extinct.

No greater example of the travesty to our constitutional liberties is the bailout of our mortgage and banking institutions as referenced by Sen. Karen Keiser's accompanying article. So how can we be a representative democracy when 70 percent of the people polled said they did not want Congress to pass this latest free ride to unscrupulous institutions and international investors, heaping more unfunded debt on we the taxpayers?

But somehow Senator Keiser seems OK with the fact that government stepped in and saved the day with the $700 million bailout. As though this practice is allowed under the U.S. Constitution and there is an never ending supply of discretionary money just waiting to be printed and distributed by the Federal Reserve, just as Washington State can perhaps afford Senator Keiser's plan to socialize medical care because a small percentage of people do not subscribe.

And, yes, Americans are concerned about the 'skyrocketing' cost of medical care. But government never sees the error of their way. Rather they see only more ways to spend more money on bad policies.

And that the reason medical insurance is so high is because government over regulates (example - the cost for insurance for uninsured motorist for people driving without insurance?). These outrageous regulations are the reasons our insurance premiums go up each and every year while driving providers out of the area, thereby reducing competition, which would bring prices down.

The only cure for the continued travesty to our liberties and the run-a-way cost of government is as Lee Hamilton subscribes.

Be informed and vote for representatives who understand that government should enjoy powers limited to those as written in their respective constitutions and granted by the people.

Fred Novota

Hurstwood