Blog
I.O.U.S.A
The most frightening new movie coming out this year is I.O.U.S.A. This movie details the looming financial catastrophe that faces this nation because of our country's inability to display any financial responsibility. It is estimated that every man, woman and child in America currently bears the responsibility for $175,000 in national debt and financial obligations.
While it is easy to blame our legislators, we, the Public, need to also accept responsibility for this mess. We're the ones who elected these folks. We're the ones who, for the most part, refuse to hold our legislators accountable.
Several years ago, I attended a meeting of the Washington County Bar Association and the dinner speaker was former Senator Bob Packwood. One of the attorneys present, Tom Elliott, asked what the Senate was going to do about the consistent federal deficits. Sen. Packwood responded by stating that noone was really concerned about deficits and that the government could continue operating with annual deficits forever. I've never seen a room full of attorneys be so quiet. Honestly, everyone was absolutely stunned by this idiocy.
If you want more information about this very real, very serious problem, I recommend that you check out the Peter G. Peterson Foundation at www.pgpf.org, in addition to watching I.O.U.S.A. Given that this is an election year and we have a close race in Oregon for US Senate, for certain US Representative positions and, of course, for President, make this issue a priority. We may not be able to agree on Iraq, abortion and immigration but I suspect that we can agree that our national debt has gotten out of hand.
All politicians want to promise things to people. What I want is the promise to be responsible. I know that we're going to have to make sacrifices. I know that the Government is not going to be able to provide me everything I want. All I want is for our Federal Government to start showing some common sense and fiscal responsibility. Its not sexy but it is necessary.
While it is easy to blame our legislators, we, the Public, need to also accept responsibility for this mess. We're the ones who elected these folks. We're the ones who, for the most part, refuse to hold our legislators accountable.
Several years ago, I attended a meeting of the Washington County Bar Association and the dinner speaker was former Senator Bob Packwood. One of the attorneys present, Tom Elliott, asked what the Senate was going to do about the consistent federal deficits. Sen. Packwood responded by stating that noone was really concerned about deficits and that the government could continue operating with annual deficits forever. I've never seen a room full of attorneys be so quiet. Honestly, everyone was absolutely stunned by this idiocy.
If you want more information about this very real, very serious problem, I recommend that you check out the Peter G. Peterson Foundation at www.pgpf.org, in addition to watching I.O.U.S.A. Given that this is an election year and we have a close race in Oregon for US Senate, for certain US Representative positions and, of course, for President, make this issue a priority. We may not be able to agree on Iraq, abortion and immigration but I suspect that we can agree that our national debt has gotten out of hand.
All politicians want to promise things to people. What I want is the promise to be responsible. I know that we're going to have to make sacrifices. I know that the Government is not going to be able to provide me everything I want. All I want is for our Federal Government to start showing some common sense and fiscal responsibility. Its not sexy but it is necessary.