To the editor: We're not sure what point The Sun Chronicle was trying to make in reporting that Sara Orozco, Democratic candidate for state Senate, had arranged for and paid off an IRS payment plan stemming from her first year as a small business owner ("Senate hopeful pays off taxes," Oct. 10). Anyone who has ever started a business knows the challenges of estimating the quarterly taxes for the first year, especially in the absence of a prior gross annual income on which to base those estimates. And most of us with small businesses know about and have used the option of setting up a payment plan with the IRS. Keeping a small business up and running is hard work. No news there.

We're glad to know that Sara Orozco understands the struggles of small business people, that she is a successful and conscientious small business owner herself, and that she is a law-abiding citizen when it comes to paying her taxes. Add that to what we already know about her and it's clear that Sara Orozco is the best choice for state senator for our district.

Mary Gibeault and Richard Flynn, North Attleboro

THESE WRITERS operate the Alternative Market in North Attleboro.

Get to know candidates before you cast ballot To the editor:

Campaign money should be from U.S. citizens who are registered voters and it should be governed.

We should know where the money comes from or not allow it, period. All campaigns should have the same amount of funding, to be fair and legal. Anytime we have one candidate with more money to advertise, it becomes unfair and we are left to believe that one candidate can buy the American people. That is not what we need during a war, during a financial breakdown, and most definitely not the right way to choose the next president of the United States.

The media has done enough to make this one-sided. The celebrities have done enough to make this a freak show. And this brain washing on race, age, sex, etc. is just ridiculous, and should never be in government.

We are supposed to be a leading country. Right now, we look stupid and this is just not what any of us need. We need to get our country back to the people.

When it comes time to choose a president, we should all do our job, and vote for the best candidate, and the best group of people to lead our country. It is up to us to do the research. Before anyone should even be allowed to run for president, they need to have enough civil experience, background checks, and history of a full United States upbringing and compassion for America.

We do not need promises. We need action. We need honesty. We need trust. This is not a game, this is our country, and we need to pay attention. Our lives, our children's lives, depend on it. Either vote responsibly, or don't vote at all. Please.

Sherry Alberty, Foxboro

Bailout bill shows need for term limits

To the editor: When and if the dust finally settles on this bailout bill, America needs to do some serious reflecting on what brought us to this point. The greed of Wall Street is only part of the equation, the greed of Washington, entrenched political machines and the lack of term limits are the rest.

USA Today showed that politicians received more than $180 million over the years from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. One insider described having lawmakers under "incredible control."

This is a problem caused by both parties making their own rules and having their own oversight and regulation, and I hope the media tears all involved politically apart when the crisis has passed.

Politicians who have stayed in Washington for decades have created themselves their own little kingdoms and brought America to the brink of financial doom. This is a problem that needs to be corrected, and term limits is a great start.

Without term limits, all this talk of change in Washington is just so much hot air.

Gary Johnson, North Attleboro