Theÿrecentÿnewsÿthat Mr. Bush was briefed (while vacationing) of an impending attack in the United States before Sept. 11, despite denials to the contrary,ÿdidn’t surprise me in the least.

I’m a common, conservative, patriotic man.

I work hard, pay my taxes, try toÿkeep the family and house afloat.

I’m writing because I have never felt so strongly about a subject before.

In the short span of three years Mr. Bush’s record is a dismal failure beyond California:ÿÿour jobs are disappearing; the Federal Treasury is being looted and bankrupted; we have lost our goodwill standing in the world; the condition of the military, economy, education, Social Security, veteran’s benefits, constitutional rights, Medicare, and energy resources are suffering; our air and water are dirtier; our forests are thinner; our states are reeling from unfunded mandates; and our young are dying in unnecessary wars for oil.

Our foreign policy is a mess; Iraq is a mess.

This administration has chosen corporations and profits over people, and politics before policies.

I don’t believe Mr. Bush and his friends give a hoot about you, I, the common man, domestic or world opinion. They seem to care only to empower themselves and enrich their financial backers.

The wealthy — especially the very rich — are stuffing their pockets with his largesse.

Our leaders are secretly closing the doors and drawing the shades of government in the most isolated and unresponsive administration since Watergate.ÿÿ

The White House attacks anyone who speaks out: adeptly manipulating our major media,ÿsilencing critics, and “spinning” the public to believe otherwise. I am shocked by what I’m seeing from here.

There is not a single issue affecting Americans now that is better off than when Mr. Bush was appointed to office (remember, he wasn’t elected).

He has taken a country in the midst of prosperity and positive international relations and promptly driven it off a cliff in short order.

Students and citizens, you may agree or disagree — but please talk to your friends about these critical issues; more importantly, please vote.

I fear we are heading into dark times for our once “representative” democracy.

Steve D’Agati

Arcata, Ca.