Marc Abear (8-12)

To the editor,

The basic problem with the government’s “recovery” efforts is that it was supposed to spur long-term growth but it has had only a small impact. The small impact that it did have was a short-term effect. The stimulus wound up mostly helping public employees and contractors. It directed money to party specific constituencies. It did not help the general public. Let me say that again, it did not help the general public. It borrowed, paid the constituencies and obligated all of us and our children to future repayment.

The president's spokesman last week used a term that is interesting and instructional. He was lamenting the absence of unanimous support and commented on the "professional left". What his comment should bring home to all of us is how totally corrupt our political system has become. There is nothing wrong with enlightened self interest. There is however a limit to all good things.

We also recently passed a milestone in the economic world. The Federal Reserve announced that it is going to buy the debt of the U.S. Government. Lots of folks may shrug that off as a big whoop. Well, actually it is a big whoop. To understand what it means you have to understand that the Federal government has been operating at a deficit for years. It has been living on credit. That may be alright as long as there are governments and or private individuals and or organizations willing to buy our debt, to extend us credit.

Well folks. What this announcement is telling us is the rest of the world won't lend to us anymore. As a result we have decided to buy our own debt. How's that for solid thinking? How's that for a change? To bring it down to a personal level; wouldn't be wonderful if we could all do that. All we'd need is more checks and we could go on right spending? Great idea, new thought, right? Wake up and smell the coffee folks. Get out and participate. Start understanding the issues and for heaven sake at least vote.

If we do not recognize when we go to the polls that we are in a hole we will find the end result may bury us. It may become hard... very, very hard. This is a situation where the first rule of holes applies. When you are in one, stop digging.

Just my honest opinion.

Marc Abear

Meredith