I found Mary Ellen Kayner's letter to the editor in your last issue very inspiring. She wrote,

"No one cares about ... redistribution of wealth, education ... I am endorsing ... McCain ... an imperfect America, which is still the best nation in the world."

And she finished with the words, "I care."

After reading her letter it was clear to me that Mary cares - just not enough. Not enough to deal with facts and not enough to allow her own mind the opportunity to grow.

People who discuss America as "the best nation in the world" appear to be stuck in the 1950's when America had a progressive tax system that allowed all the benefits of a strong middle class. They speak as if being "the best nation" is more important than being, in the words of George Bush senior, "A kinder, gentler, nation."

My own experience of America is not that we are, "the best." Millions of Americans have no health care. College remains only for those whose families can encourage or fund a college education, whereas, in many European countries these things are opportunities for all people regardless of social/economic background.

And let's dissect the importance of social background: the American Medical Association issued an official apology this summer stating that for decades it had discriminated against African-American physicians. This means that thousands of African-American physicians with equal or better resume's to there white counterparts could not move forward in their careers. And that's just the AMA. Imagine for a moment how many other aspects of business and life where this has occurred let alone the emotional and generational impact. Mary, are we still, "the best?"

Now, here's what Mary and those who associate their political belief's with the Republican party have a hard time swallowing: I don't think America is "the best," yet I love my country. When I was 16 years old I lived on my own working fulltime making minimum wage and have slowly worked my way up within our system to reach many of my goals. If there is one thing that can be said for the American Middle Class it's that we work hard. There are many places in the world where working hard doesn't get you far. That's not the case here in the states.

And we can be better. We can ensure the health of all of our citizens by creating national health care, we can create a more progressive tax system such as in the 1950's that creates a stable middle class and brings those with less opportunity up into the middle class and those with all the opportunity closer to home.

It's not socialism. It's a kinder, gentler nation. And I know Barack Obama will get us that much closer to the dreams of our mothers and fathers. Because he, too, cares.

Dan Doherty

Seattle