This ship of fools is headed at high speed toward a reef

Friday, Feb. 27, 2009

Adding insult to injury, governments experiencing the loss of revenue decided they would increase taxes to continue the "high on the hog" living style they have become accustomed to. They have placed a very heavy burden on small business owners, as well as the general public. There is no such thing as fiscal responsibility any more. Government officials simply put into their budget what they want and adjust taxes to pay for it. The average citizen has no say in how they run their business and if you write a letter to your representative complaining, you will receive a sympathy letter in return and a statement, "I did not vote for that."

If I were a representative for the people and received letters of complaint, I would raise such a ruckus in meetings that I would definitely get some attention. You ask why? Because that is my job, that is what I was elected to do, serve the people who put me in office. That is an issue that all politicians have failed to recognize or remember.

To stimulate money flow in the system there are some basic simple rules that even a child understands. First, you must be able to afford what you purchase. If that purchase price is beyond your income, you either do without it or save to purchase it. If you choose to use credit for the purchase you must be capable of making the payment and interest. As prices increase and creditors are limited, purchases are reduced significantly and everyone in the money flow chain is affected; it is a domino effect. Business owners close their business and all their workers are forced on unemployment (an additional burden on the state). When times are tough you must adjust accordingly. Increasing prices and foolish spending is the route to disaster.

You cannot squeeze blood out of a turnip and you cannot ask taxpayers for more money than they have. For recent and proposed tax increases, which meal of the day must I give up to pay for this? Yes, you are taking food out of the people's mouths with these stupid increases. What officials fail to realize is the fact that they are slowly but surely committing suicide. When they place burdens on an already burdened source, the end result is zero. They are forcing us into a full-scale depression and probably the worst one in history. All the signs are there and so obvious I do not understand why they don't see them.

When these polished politicians are forced into the bread line, perhaps they will understand the system as it is not as they believe it to be. Their "ivory tower" style of living has caused a complete loss of common sense.

What I do not understand is the complacency of the American public. No one wants to become involved and they believe the government will take care of us. Without guidance from the American people, the government will become corrupt.

If we do not demand that our elected representatives provide us with representation and seek means to avoid corruption, it will continue on a wholesale basis. It is time for all citizens to pull together in one direction to reduce unnecessary spending, keep taxes at affordable rates and by all means to prevent financial disaster. We should demand responsibility and integrity from our elected officials and if they do not provide us with that, throw the rascals out. I do not mean wait until they have served their term in office. If they don't conform to our satisfaction, impeach them. As voters, we have power. Let's use it.

We do not need career politicians. All elected offices should be limited to two terms in office. After these two terms, it appears politicians are more interested in re-election than doing their job. Time limits in office and line-item vetoes are the only real means to gain control of our government. This again is something the voters should decide, not politicians

I feel like I am riding on a ship of fools. We are heading at high speed toward a reef. As the bow watch, I keep calling out warning to the bridge that we are gong to hit the reef. Their response is "No, everything is under control." I can only wait for the impact I know is coming.

Tom Julien, Charlotte Hall