It's up to the voters to change the status quo Well, the good news from Washington continues to roll out for working men and women in the United States. First, the cost of living has continued to skyrocket as gasoline prices soar to records that were virtually unimaginable just a few years ago. Most people fail to realize that the cost of gas is not simply reflected in the cost of commuting to work or doing your daily chores or taking your children to their after-school sports. In fact, the increased cost of fuel means that it costs more to ship food in trucks, it costs more to manufacture goods, it costs more to heat not only public and private buildings, but also malls, supermarkets and, of course, our own homes. All of these costs are ultimately passed on to us. Additionally, the job-creation market is a complete disaster and, as if that weren't enough, the cost of health care is up nearly 8 percent year to year. There is no longer a question about whether or not we have economic challenges in the United States. Those challenges need to be faced with proactive, strong leadership with new and innovative ideas who will break from the tradition of the past and help carry our country into its rightful leadership position in the 21st century. It is up to us as the American people and the American voters to determine which of the candidates running for various offices, including president, will do what needs to be done for a change, rather than continue the status quo, and to work as diligently as possible to make sure he or she is elected to office. Chip Gerrity President New Jersey International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Hightstown