When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to vote against putting bread on your table vs. voting to stop Joe and Russ down the street from marrying, or denying a raped teen an abortion, that's when common sense must prevail.

I and millions more never imagined being old enough to need Social Security income, or a triple bypass, or, say, spleen removal or hip replacement. Or being without a million bucks in the bank to pay for assisted living, or being jobless after 30 years of hard work with absolutely no job prospects after age 50.

Age and infirmities come on us so quickly that the young can't imagine it happening. Ask anyone my age about the swiftness of the last 30 years: Where did they go? The aged, you, your parents, your children will need various Social Security benefits, Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment insurance, etc.

In contrast, consider, for example, Ron Paul's comment about the ER visitor needing life-saving help, but having no means of payment. The commentator asked, "Should we let him die?"

The audience cheered.

To cut off such programs that further the health and welfare of kids and adults, and save lives, is inhumane, un-Christian, and should be un-American. For one political party, however, it's as American as apple pie. It's the party that simple common decency forbids me to vote for.

Fred Krongold

Spotsylvania