The choice isn't that hard

To the Editor:

Who ever we vote into office in November will need to make some tough decisions to deal with our ongoing economic crisis.

I believe that Obama's record and message for the future indicate that he has the will to change and the judgment which will be necessary to steer our country back on a sane economic track, however difficult that may be.

McCain, on the other hand, has supported deregulation, which has permitted fraudulent, risky lending practices to go unchecked and allowed financial giants and big oil interests to make their killing without showing any concern for the future.

Since concern for the country's financial future is the government's responsibility, it becomes our responsibility when we go to the polls. In the U.S. Senate, Obama introduced the Stop Fraud Act to increase penalties for mortgage fraud and provide more protections for low-income homebuyers, well before the current subprime crisis began. It's hard to take McCain's current promise of regulatory reform seriously when he has no history prior to the presidential campaign of advocating steps to tighten standards for mortgage or investment practices.

We need real change. Will that come from McCain with his eight houses, who no doubt identifies with the individuals who are still profiting from unregulated greed? I don't think so.

Lisa Summers,

Rockville