Red Ink, Courtesy of Bush Tax Rebates

“Slump Forcing U.S. to Borrow,” July 31: Here we go again. Just like his father did. We’re back in the red. The government is forced to borrow $51 billion, as opposed to the original estimate of a $57-billion surplus. Isn’t that about what the tax rebate cost us? And with few exceptions, nobody wanted it.

Say what you want about our former president, he got it right. It may all have been paper numbers, but we didn’t have to borrow money to run the government. And we were paying off the national debt, which was originally caused by both Ronald Reagan and the “other” Bush.

President Bush didn’t have far to go to learn from previous mistakes. His father’s diary would have shown him all the things not to do. The man is a danger. Can’t anybody stop him? As long as he takes care of his good old boys down in Texas, his future is secure.

Robert Xiques

Corona

I just want to add my voice to the many who are heralding the actual fulfillment of the promise of tax relief.

Neither Reagan nor John F. Kennedy followed through on their promises as President Bush has done. My wife and I will deposit our check in individual retirement accounts to help stabilize our economy and our own futures.

Glenn Kirkpatrick

Sunland

Bush promotes international instability by shredding long-standing treaties, creates new “taxes” by allowing price gouging of energy monopolies and risks rising deficits by Reagan-era tax cuts. It’s three strikes and we’re out of prosperity and into recession.

Robert Steward

West Hills

I just received the good news that I will be getting $300 as my share of the tax rebate or surplus funds. I plan to do a lot of fun things with this money, like buy myself a new pair of shoes--my first in five years--buy my young grandson a new toy, pay off a few small bills and eat out at McDonald’s at least once a week, instead of once a year on my birthday. I feel very happy. Thank you, Mr. President. To all of you complaining Democrats out there: Get over it.

Virginia Bloch

Moreno Valley

Robert Scheer’s ridiculous comment that the Supreme Court “anointed” Bush is another example of how he is so far to the left that he makes Ted Kennedy look like a conservative (“Pity Bush, Gamely Shedding Treaties Like Dandruff,” Commentary, July 31). If Al Gore had won the 5-4 vote, Scheer would have gushed forever on the court’s “wise” and “judicious” decision. He also conveniently overlooked the fact that when the network anchors gleefully announced that Gore had won Florida, they in effect disenfranchised 10,000 conservative voters in the Panhandle area, which is in a different time zone.

Charles Morelock

Huntington Beach

Re “Bush Likely to Endorse Vote Reforms,” July 31: Will they be retroactive?

Evan Puziss

Mar Vista