Who's to blame?

I just love the feature in Grand Junction's Daily Sentinel called "You Said It". It gives anyone the opportunity to be anonymous in their personal rant, thank you or rhetorical question. And it gives anyone and everyone an opportunity to see how much or how little education is required to put out an idea, belief or criticism of our neighbors, both locally and globally.

So now some of our beloved community members are trying to make either Obama or Clinton or other Democrats to blame for our current economic woes. I find this laughable (for the record I am an undeclared voter - no party affiliation). If anyone has been paying attention over the past 40 years or so - give or take a decade or two - you would know that each and every president and member of Congress has had responsibility for where we are today, regardless of political party affiliation. All have monkeyed with our economic system in one way or another, by choosing what to tax and what to spend, and how to police it all with government agencies that are supposed to be looking out for ALL of us as citizens. I defy anyone to say that any of the above mention government officials are not responsible.

Yes, Clinton relaxed the rules with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but Mr. Bush II did nothing to avoid the current calamity. Both Reagan and Bush I ran on a platform of reducing taxes and both increased taxes during their terms. Why? Because they realized that they had to in order to support the bloating nature of our government. Why have over 700 miliary bases overseas? Why spend hundreds of billions of our taxpayers money funding useless and outdated military strategies every year (or protecting some corporations overseas interests)? Our representatives in our federal government have made these decisions not for the good of us all, but for the good of a small group on constiuents, political insiders that are personally benefitting. It's been the military-industrial complex as warned by Ike that's been benefitting. It's former congressman that have been at the trough of taxpayer monies during and after their terms. Now it's the bank's turn (count AIG as the worst offender). And this is called "public service". They should be in jail.

I challenge any federal, elected official either currently in office or "retired", to refuse any federal payment for "retirement" going forward. Put meaning back into the term public service. For those in office, become real stewards of this country not heavier burdens. Make those that are getting a handout have to work for it. Make those getting assistance have to give up their ownership but with an opportunity to earn it back. And I mean earn it the old fashioned American way, not with some slick investment scheme that's more designed to confuse than to reflect an honest day's work.

In the end, it's KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid), with heavy emphasis on the Stupid because you've dumbed down our electorate with an education "system" that has failed our country in more ways than one. Why let the facts get in the way of the truth? And who's to blame? Look in the mirror - we all are to blame. And don't forget what's coming down the horizon - baby boomers on Medicare and Social Security, energy sources becoming more scarce or unusable and fresh water demand continuing to be under pressure from our growing populations. So, guess what? It's time to show that history can repeat itself and we can have another "greatest generation".