Letter writer Ann Adams of Oak Harbor recently complained about President Bush’s budget (“Where’s his heart as he makes cuts?”). As a typical “hand-out” liberal she expects me, the American taxpayer, to provide the following: food stamps, health care through Medicaid, and to educate kids through public schools. Like many liberals, she expects the American taxpayer to support every child in the county.

One of the basic tenets of the conservative movement in America is “personal responsibility.” Individuals have to learn to care for themselves and their own. News flash to “hand-out” liberals, the American taxpayer does not owe you a living. You want the better things in life and even the necessities, then you work for them.

The American taxpayer will help those who can’t help themselves, but we can only do so much to carry people who expect to live life through the hard work of others. To complain that the taxpayers aren’t giving you the treatment that you’d like or the amount of services that you think you deserve is an insult to every hard working taxpayer in the country. And to complain that President Bush’s increase in his budget for social programs isn’t big enough and referring to his increases as “cuts” is also an insult to voters.

Personal responsibility! Try it, liberals, and you’ll help yourself and your family to a more satisfying lifestyle.

Jeffrey M. Buckley

Lynnwood