| AUGUST 9, 2011 -- This weekend Standard and Poor’s (S&P) downgraded the credit rating of our country from an AAA to an AA+. Then last night I read that a white house advisor blamed the tea party for the downgrade.
I’ve had it with politicians who are more focused on blaming the other guys than trying to fix the problems of our great nation! I have a hunch that I’m not alone.
From what I’ve observed, S&P warned us during the debt ceiling debate that we needed to reduce our deficit spending and start reducing the debt we have accumulated. The debt ceiling agreement did little immediately other than raise the debt ceiling, but did do two things later. We punted the issue from our elected officials to a “special” commission to figure things out later, and much of the advertised cuts are down the road where they may or may not actually happen.
After watching the NFL players and owners, with conflicting goals, find a workable solution that allowed the season to begin, I find the destructive antics being played by many politicians to be unbelievable.
Grange members in their personal lives and as members making decisions for their organization understand that we can’t spend more than we take in without risking our future. We understand that if you only have enough money to buy milk for your kids, you don’t buy pie instead. We understand that if you don’t have money to pay the credit card bill, you don’t use the card.
I don’t know what the repercussions of the downgrade will be, but I do know it is not going to make our situation better and it may make life harder for every American. Hearing the S&P is still warning that they may yet reduce our rating further and that other rating organizations are reviewing our status, should wake up the folks in Washington, D.C.
I wonder how many politicians are listening to us? Are we stupid to think that our elected officials should find ways to reduce spending and debt? No one thinks it will be easy, but these elected officials asked us for the opportunity to serve our country.
To each politician I say, the parties didn’t elect you, we did. If you think we’re stupid, we can fix that a year from November. At least we can balance a check book. |
