President worked hard for peace, prosperity

United States readies itself for a changing of the guard, most of us owe President Bill Clinton a word of thanks. He has been a good commander in chief through difficult times. Under his watch, no major wars were fought in the Mideast: In fact, the process of peace was encouraged. President Clinton halted the gross human rights abuses that were being perpetrated in the former Yugoslavia, through U.S. intervention. The tragedy of Haitian boat people was stopped by using our influence and military to safeguard the right to free elections. And last, a semblance of peace was started in Northern Ireland, where indiscriminate killing had gone on for 40 years. He's worked closely with our allies to open markets and instill in others our concern for human rights.\nOn the national level he has twice raised the minimum wage, ensured the financial solvency of Social Security, paid down the horrible deficits created by the Reagan/Bush administrations and presided over the largest peacetime expansion of the U.S. economy. At a time when Asian markets were falling apart and Europe stagnated, our economy grew.\nIf he has failed, it is not by lack of trying. He tried to ensure every citizen had access to health care. The insurance companies, the American Medical Association and the Republican Party spent more than $800 million to make sure that wouldn't happen. He pushed the McCain-Feingold bill for campaign finance reform, again the Republican Party defeated that legislation. And he tried to contain the mess in Iraq that was left over from the Bush administration. Unfortunately, we still spend more than $1 million dollars a day in that debacle.\nThe leadership of an intelligent, wise and caring president should be applauded by us all, and I for one am glad that I voted for him.\nMichael Drescher\nBloomington resident