The Editor, Sir:

In response to Mr Espeut's assumption that the 46 per cent of the United States population "prefer the old-style politics of the Republican Party", Let me state the following:

Many of us were doing one of the following:

a) Voting for McCain was for us a hope of a different kind of Republican in charge.

b) Voting against more federalism which will come with the Democratic Party in charge.

c) Voting against a man with some interesting past associations.

d) Voting against pro-choice on the abortion issue.

e) As a veteran, I do not see Mr McCain as a warmonger. I believe a former POW wants less than anyone to put his soldiers in harm's way.

The United States' two-party system, to many of us, has become a disappointment. Like many Americans, I am an independent voter, and only declare party for primaries because it is required. Many of us feel the media has way too much power in choosing which potential candidates get their coverage. Many voters on both sides felt they were picking the lesser of two evils.

'The man'

I wish Mr Obama Godspeed. I hope in four years that I happily walk into the voting booth and push the Obama button, because he will have proven to me that he is 'the man'.

And for your wonderful country of Jamaica, as well as mine, I only hope the two parties in charge strive to look beyond party lines at what is good for the people.

I am, etc.,

SCOTT WOOD

wooddc @hotmail.com

Iowa, U.S.A

Via Go-Jamaica