No justification for this much debt

Recently, I overheard a friend of mine talking to his daughter about a school project that was due soon. The exchange was all too familiar.

“Most people haven’t even started theirs yet, Dad. You should be glad that I am at least doing something.”
“I’m not raising ‘people,’” he said. “I am raising you.”

The daughter’s justification for her actions (or lack of) reminded me of some of our elected officials in Washington when talking about the trillions of dollars of debt they have approved.

Their justification: The Bush administration did it too.

It would be too easy to point out the fallacy in trying to compare the deficit spending to fight two wars and he recent “stimulus” spending. In fact that point makes itself.

That being said, justification of today’s spending by comparing it to a previous administration’s spending is asinine. “George Bush put us in debt, so we are going to put us further in debt.”

Last week’s anti-tax and spend tea parties were a direct result of such thinking and justification. While some tried to paint it as “angry rich folks and corporations,” unbiased observers saw it for the grassroots outcry it was.

People don’t want to see their kids and grandkids hamstrung with debt. They don’t want the next generation to be the first that does economically worse than their predecessors.

The Democrat-controlled Congress and the White House are on a fast track to bankruptcy if things don’t change. Bailouts and entitlements are not the way to bring back this nation to economic greatness.

The Bible says, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7 NIV)

Regardless of your professed faith (or lack of) there is an undeniable truth in that passage. Anyone who has been harassed by bill collectors knows they are slaves to their debts. Every paycheck seems to be eaten up by debt service.

Just imagine what our nation could accomplish if it were debt free? We indeed are becoming slaves to our national debt.

It is time for the electorate to become like the father who refuses to accept his child’s justifications. We need to remind our elected officials across this nation — both Republicans and Democrats — that we are not looking at what the Bush administration did. We are looking at what they are doing now. And we will hold them accountable.

America abolished slavery more than a century ago. Why in the world would we accept economic slavery now?

Pelosi is more than out of touch

As hundres of thousands of Americans shouted a cry of protest to excessive taxation and government spending in the form of “Tea Parties,” some legislative leaders made it clear how out of touch they really are with average Americans. One leader in particular was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D – Calif.

While being interviewed by a Fox affiliate in San Francisco, Pelosi belittled the protestors and their cause.

“...What they (the protestors) want is a continuation of the failed economic policies of President George Bush which got us in the situation we are in now,” Pelosi said.

“…We call it astroturf, it’s not really a grassroots movement. It’s astroturf by some of the wealthiest people in America to keep the focus on tax cuts for the rich instead of for the great middle class.”

As a personal eyewitness to the Bossier City-based event, I can assure Ms. Pelosi that there were people from all walks of life protesting — old and young, rich and poor.

The diversity of the protestors was not a Bossier-only phenomenon. Photos and video from across America told the story of this truly grassroots movement. Cities large and small held tea parties, and attendance far surpassed anyone’s expectations.

As someone who has grown somewhat cynical in my “old age,” I was thrilled to see such an outpouring. Americans are not as apathetic as we once thought.

I am also a proponent of healthy debate. To have a different opinion or philosophy is not a bad thing. However, when the debate goes from disagreements about policy and philosophy and becomes an attack on the person, it is a dangerous problem.

Which brings me back to Ms. Pelosi.

Her comments about Tea Party organizers and attendees not only show a lack of connection to the heart of America, it shows a dangerous disregard for it as well.

U.S. Rep. John Fleming, R-La., told the crowd in Bossier City, that Pelosi rules the House with an “iron fist” and that rank-and-file Democrats go along with whatever she says, regardless of their constituency. Herein lies the danger.

If America is to remain a free nation, it will take more than just Tea Parties to protect it. It will take “regular Americans” harassing their elected officials to the place where they stand up to Ms. Pelosi and others like her.

Elections have consequences. However, the power (for now) remains with the electorate. It is time for all Americans to get involved on a daily basis. With email, Facebook, Twitter, letters to the editor, and the like, there is no excuse not to be in contact with the people we are paying to represent us.

Get involved. Stay involved. Fight the good fight.