I first read Mr. Joiner’s Feb. 16 “Sound off” and laughed. I am often amused by the irony and hypocrisy politics and elections bring out. I was not going to write a response to a letter that was written with the sole intent of being insulting and inflammatory, but then I decided to let such ignorance go unchecked is exactly the opposite of what is needed.

I suggest conservatives who share Mr. Joiner’s views turn off the talk radio and listen to the American people. The implication that to be something other than a Republican is to be anti-American is repugnant.

To cast off the years of work and service of generations of Americans because they don’t share your party affiliation is, at best, insulting. To imply that liberals have not worked, fought, lived and died for their country is beyond shameful.

I would like to remind Mr. Joiner that our country was founded on the principles of freedom, equality, and individual rights. For all its talking points, the current leaders of the Republican Party have chosen to trample all of these principles through fear, intolerance and a blatant disregard for the rule of law.

I, as a liberal, have no desire to see the 2nd Amendent repealed. I do have a strong desire to see the 4th Amendment upheld.

The role of government is not just to provide for a “common defense” but also to “promote the general welfare” of this union.

The Republicans came into office in 2001 with balanced budget and declining deficit. I, along the rest of the 20 to 30 somethings, have watched them destroy our financial stability. I will not sit back and allow the claim of fiscal responsibility be awarded to a party which has proven over the last seven years that it is incapable of restraining itself with my money, my children’s money, their children’s money. Deficits do matter.

Finally, liberalism is not a social habit. It is a desire to build a nation in which all people are treated equally and given the opportunity to succeed. It is not Mr. Joiner who was abandoned by his generation, it is the Republican Party that has abandoned his generation. This generation believes in social equality and fiscal responsibility. Neither of these things are offered by the current Republican Party.

So I will ask also, that when you cast your vote in November, to do so based on the record of the last seven years of Republican leadership. If you are happy with the direction they have taken us and want more of the same, then you should vote them back in. But if you care about deficits, equality, education, the environment, and our standing in the world, you might want to take a look a little bit to the left.

Julie Germano

Coupeville