Bush strikes again! This time by forcing the Central American Free Trade Agreement through the U.S. House of Representatives by using strong-armed tactics. House Democrats protested that rules were violated. When the vote was tallied the first time, the nays outnumbered the yeas 180 - 175.

Then the sleazy tactics of the Republican congressmen came into play. According to Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., among other things, they threatened to withhold federal highway funds and strip chairmanships from Republican House members if they didn't support CAFTA.

It caused me to wonder what North Dakotans who voted Bush into office think of their choice now, especially if they are growers of sugar beets.

This action is just one more example of taking money-making power away from American workers and taking it to foreign countries where labor is cheap. Of course, the end result is increasing the wealth of the wealthy and taking it away from hard-working middle-class Americans.

I have some firsthand knowledge of the importance of the sugar beet industry to Minnesota and North Dakota. One of my stepsons is a farmer in the Rothsay, Minn., area and sugar beets are one of his best money-making crops. After graduating from college, he used his skills and initiative to purchase land and equipment, and from that beginning he has become a prominent farmer in the Rothsay area. I have heard him say that production of sugar beets is what improved his financial situation. Then along comes a president who with a stroke of a pen can knock a dent in the U.S. sugar beet market.

Many, many well-thought-out letters in The Forum have detailed the record of the Bush administration in regard to its handling (or rather, mishandling) of domestic and foreign affairs of this country. It is a prime example of Republican leadership over the expense of the middle-class of which I am proud to be one. It is little consolation, but at least my votes for John Kerry and John Edwards helped carry Minnesota to victory for those candidates.

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