I try very hard to empathize with truckers, homeowners, but I cannot. I had my basic civil rights violated at an airport in my state in front of my family, arrested on bogus charges defending my wife, who is from somewhere else, who against her rights and in front of my 2-year-old daughter, had her passport taken to intimidate us so she might miss her flight.

We are both professionals in academia. When I protested, I was slammed against the ticket counter by a policeman, charged with disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. It was the middle of a busy semester. I had to take a half dozen trips over an hour each way to clear my name, hiring a lawyer, which in NY is not cheap. It was all bogus. I was so upset I lost my wallet overseas.

My lawyer said this happens... this happens!

Recently I was blackmailed by my local trooper and the local judge favored him, even though before the court told my wife and me that we should plead innocent.

Finally, my local paper talks about ANWR drilling instead of local wind energy, which the populace in my county protests because they enjoy scenery instead of jobs.

My shock registers from the total apathy when I was being forcibly arrested, when all the people in the NY airport just stood there. I hope they all go to Hell. I don't care about the apology from the airline CEO, which got my charges reduced.

It doesn't matter now that I should care about others' plight. The people in the US are very shameful and selfish. Cops and troopers are bullies. I will never ever help any of them. Now Bush gives local cops the right to harass anybody who they think is an illegal immigrant! They have no intelligence (or right) to do this.

Now my wife wants to leave this country and our respective careers. Anybody I know who is educated enough to find a job elsewhere leaves. Everybody else will be forced out. My rates are all going up when everybody else loses their home. I don't care--I am innocent and have to suffer for other people's greed and intolerance in making Bush our leader. Why shouldn't everybody else pay for their own mistake!? I didn't vote for him.

Thank you America... for deceiving the rest of the world into thinking you are such a great (ha) democracy.... It can happen to anybody!!!

We have agreed if Bush III MCain wins, we will leave, because we don't think this country wants us here anymore.

In NY State, you are basically picked up and shook until all your money falls out in order to line the pockets of corrupt politicians. It is this spite and hate in Albany and Washington that drives the hypocritical politicians. Bottom line, Spitzer is not the exception, he is the rule. People are only now waking up to the damage Bush has done.

In government, law enforcement and many public roles today, instead of "serving and protecting" it is a "you're on your own" society"--and "do as I say, not as I do." Bush and Spitzer (as well as Britney etc.) emulate society. And this is the saddest statement of all, of how far we have fallen.

Jason Smith

Oneonta, NY