Political candidates and our government are not addressing the real needs of our country. Warmed over promises of tax cuts for every occasion, prosperity for everyone, guaranteed education and healthcare for all, ending our nation’s energy dependence, a cleaner environment and reduced global warming, victory in Afghanistan and Iraq, and ridding our government and businesses of corruption will not suffice. Our country desparately needs straight talk instead of mere promises and tuogh love rather than pandering to various segments of our society.
Our United States of America is in dire straits. We are bogged down in two costly wars, our military is spread thin, our financial markets are in chaos, we are running up huge budget deficits and astronomical debts for our grandchildren, many of our citizens and the federal government are living well beyond their means, families and businesses are experiencing record bankruptcies, we are dependent on expensive foreign energy sources, tens of millions of our citizens are without health insurance and adequate healthcare, global warming is threatening our very existence, education opportunities for our youth are evaporating, comfortable retirement is out of reach for a growing number of Americans, job security is a thing of the past, poverty remains unchecked in our land, Social Security and Medicare are going broke, our society is plagued with greed and corruption, and our nation is looked on with disdain by much of the world. All that is a testament to the failed policies of our government and the selfish attitudes of our people over the last few decades, especially during the last eight years under the Bush administration.
We Americans must demand the truth from our leaders rather than promises of better times without paying the price for them. I am convinced that sacrifice by all of our people, including the very wealthy, is necessary if our country is to dig its way out of the huge hole we are in. I believe also that truly patriotic Americans will be willing to make these sacrifices if they understand what is at stake. If we are unwilling to make personal sacrifices for the good of our country, our great nation is doomed to failure. So, whoever wins the upcoming presidential and congressional elections must step up to the plate and level with the American people.
I certainly do not have the answers for all of our nation’s problems, and we surely do not have the resources to address all of them at the same time. That means our nation’s problems must be prioritized, with some solutions being deferred to a later date. Our new administration and Congress must work together to bring America back from the brink of failure. They must spell out clearly what is expected of our people. And, we as citizens must do our part, which includes living within our means and helping those less fortunate than we are. May our participation be freely given and may God bless our efforts. I solicit your comments.
