The hope and change mantra that many embraced is now a relic of history and a useless bit of liberal demagoguery.

The new buzz word for the day is now "fair." Rob from the rich through legislation and give to everybody else.

Steal from those who create jobs and contribute to our economy and give to those who don't. Give to other countries to develop their resources but disregard our own.

With all due respect to the president, let me tell you what is fair: Stop the spending so our kids can have a nation to grow up in debt free. Get rid of that costly health care reform and replace it with something more useful. Get rid of the tax code, loopholes, tax credits and replace it all with something that's good for the entire nation.

Have the 48 percent who pay no income tax contribute something. If we can have openly gay people in the military, then we can have God in the classroom.

What's fair is having one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Benjamin C. Cook, Kennewick