From Larry Jogerst
Lena, Ill.
June brings back childhood memories of summer vacations, way before the days of air conditioning or GPS. Back then, Dad and Mom relied on maps and road signs. A keen awareness of our surroundings and following those road signs got us safely to our destination many a time. A similar, keen awareness seems to be sorely lacking by some Americans as we head into this November's elections. These elections will once again provide direction for our country for years to come. Looking at the road signs (the finance and news reports), I see there are many current U.S. policies that need a change in direction. But the one I write about today is U.S. fiscal policy and the craziness of putting more debt on top of bad debt - bailouts. The bailouts began in March 2008 with a $29 billion stimulus package to Wall Street. They continued until April 2009 when $1 trillion went to the G-20 World Leaders in a stimulus package. By my calculations, over that time period, $4.7 trillion dollars have been handed out in stimulus packages. In addition, we have ponzi schemes for retirement funds (social security system), an expensive new health care system we didn't ask for, the government payrolls continue to balloon while the private joblessness rate hovers around 10 percent. The $787 billion bailout is heavily loaded to pay out in 2010, just before this year's elections. It may just all come crashing down shortly after November (anyone else remember the 80's recession?). The current road signs don't look good at all. Here in Illinois, our financial house is in a total mess too. As I see it, we're basically broke as a nation, but the bankers haven't foreclosed yet. All the signs tell me this. This out of control spending has been going on for many decades and it has to stop before our loans get called in (Greece anyone?) Government was never meant to meet our needs, which is socialism (just ask Senator Maxine Waters). Only God and the abilities He gives us (grace) can meet our needs. Please take a little time this busy summer to research who the fiscally responsible candidates are this November. Then get up off that La-Z-Boy, and go vote the big spenders out of government before the bankers come to foreclose!
Lena, Ill.
June brings back childhood memories of summer vacations, way before the days of air conditioning or GPS. Back then, Dad and Mom relied on maps and road signs. A keen awareness of our surroundings and following those road signs got us safely to our destination many a time. A similar, keen awareness seems to be sorely lacking by some Americans as we head into this November's elections. These elections will once again provide direction for our country for years to come. Looking at the road signs (the finance and news reports), I see there are many current U.S. policies that need a change in direction. But the one I write about today is U.S. fiscal policy and the craziness of putting more debt on top of bad debt - bailouts. The bailouts began in March 2008 with a $29 billion stimulus package to Wall Street. They continued until April 2009 when $1 trillion went to the G-20 World Leaders in a stimulus package. By my calculations, over that time period, $4.7 trillion dollars have been handed out in stimulus packages. In addition, we have ponzi schemes for retirement funds (social security system), an expensive new health care system we didn't ask for, the government payrolls continue to balloon while the private joblessness rate hovers around 10 percent. The $787 billion bailout is heavily loaded to pay out in 2010, just before this year's elections. It may just all come crashing down shortly after November (anyone else remember the 80's recession?). The current road signs don't look good at all. Here in Illinois, our financial house is in a total mess too. As I see it, we're basically broke as a nation, but the bankers haven't foreclosed yet. All the signs tell me this. This out of control spending has been going on for many decades and it has to stop before our loans get called in (Greece anyone?) Government was never meant to meet our needs, which is socialism (just ask Senator Maxine Waters). Only God and the abilities He gives us (grace) can meet our needs. Please take a little time this busy summer to research who the fiscally responsible candidates are this November. Then get up off that La-Z-Boy, and go vote the big spenders out of government before the bankers come to foreclose!
