As an 18 year-old who is going to be a first-time voter in the presidential election this year, I am scared to inherit what will be left of this country. I am highly concerned at my choices for president and for those already in the Senate.

In the July 11 issue of the Bangor Daily News an article stated that the Senate passed a $265.5 billion defense spending bill adding $11.2 billion to President Clinton’s defense budget request. I find this incredibly disgusting! The Senate must have watched “Independence Day” one too many times. What can the military possibly need all that money for, protecting U.S. citizens from alien attack?

If President Clinton had any backbone left he would stick to his original budget and veto this waste of my hard-earned money.

Another legislation in that bill is the regulation that the military disharge service members who test positive for HIV. Can anyone spell discrimination? What’s next, women with children? I thought this was America but I guess I was wrong. Ciree Nash Orland