Dear Bakersfield,

I could not help but notice that you voted the Republican Party line without fail in the 2006 election. I am a little surprised by this development, given the national results of November 7, 2006 that brought about such a major shift of the political dynamic. A shift that occurred in spite of gerrymandered districts that held previously safe seats for incumbents.

I must assume the Republican Party has been very good to Bakersfield over the years. There must be tremendous infrastructure within the city limits coupled with high education standards and a quality of life that insulates the community from the rest of the nation, which has seen wage stagnation, under employment, insurmountable health care costs, increased crime, soaring energy costs and an inabilty to save a penny over these past six years for most of the citizens.

I read with interest your former Republican Congressman, Bill Thomas, had created a windfall for Bakersfield and Kern County with a huge federal road improvement package earmarked for his constituents over the objections of many other California legislators. This windfall, in the sum of nearly $800 million dollars, could be had by passing a half cent sales tax increase that would guarantee this magnanimous bequest and give to the city and county almost two billion dollars in road improvement money. As I understand from last night's results things are so good in your town you declined the gift by voting down the tax. Yes, things must be very good indeed throughout Bakersfield and all of Kern County to dismiss such a sum.

I must surmise that the widespread intellectual might of the community played a major role in pointing out the many pitfalls associated with partnering with the federal government on contracts. This partnering has been catastrophic for the Bechtel Corporation and Halliburton over the past several years. These two government partners along with the Oil industry see such high profits coupled with their large subsidies they actually may have to pay earnings taxes at some point. The citizens in Bakersfield all deserve a big pat on the back for a job well done by avoiding any government entanglements.

I realize with all the money the Republican Party has given to Bakersfield historically, it will be an easy task to have the highways contructed to your city's unusally high quality standard. I look forward to driving my sports car through your seamless interchanges to the many fine shopping centers throughout the town.

It must be nice to live in a city that serves as the model for the rest of America and is not subjected to the vagaries of political whim. No government help or intervention necessary for all the bright people in Bakerfield. I'm sure those large agricultural giants in the southern San Joaquin Valley take no government handouts and pay their college graduate harvesters tremendous wages and benefits. I picture bucolic rural colleges of agri-genetics set on pristine grounds all paid through the benevolence of corporate responsibility.

Bakersfield needs to tell this dramatic post-election story that the rest of the nation got it all wrong. While nearly all of California voted for the Democratic Party candidates and moderate Republicans, Bakersfield was leading the charge to self reliance and independence from government by voting for the very extreme right wing entrants for every elected office.

"Bakersfield, life as it should be?"