Thu, Nov 26 2009
|
|
Published October 30, 2009 03:33 pm - I begin with a statement of opinion that is bleak. I believe that the financial situation in our country is the worst in our history in terms of long-term concerns. Voices: Fiscal reality I begin with a statement of opinion that is bleak. I believe that the financial situation in our country is the worst in our history in terms of long-term concerns. Yes, the Great Depression was worse in the short term. Fortunately, a war “got us out of the Depression.” During the war we created massive debt. Ending the war allowed us through military demobilization to quickly (a few short years) return to financial surpluses in federal accounts. Unfortunately there is no quick fix today for our huge national debt and continuing deficit spending. I do not believe this is a political party issue. It is an American people issue. We the people increasingly turn to government in all forms to solve problems. As a government should in a democracy, it tries mightily to create solutions, be they in foreign matters to prevent another 9/11 or meet legitimate needs such as health care. I do not belittle any of the “needs” demanded by Americans. I would love to see all of the problems solved either by private enterprise or government, I really don’t care which. But the simple fact is the country as a whole, privately or through government, cannot meet all the demands articulated. I believe the “production” in this country is far behind our ability to meet expressed needs or wants. Another way of saying it is: demand is far outpacing supply in a truly macroscopic sense. And it is going to get worse. Again fundamentally, our “supply” is critically dependent on our intellectual capacity as a country. Then look at the state of education at all levels. Our ability to dramatically increase “supply” or production is going down, not up, with untold long term consequences. My bottom line is we the people are asking far too much of our various governments. We have to stop “asking” no matter how legitimate the “needs.” Government must in turn start to say “NO, we cannot do that.” Anson Burlingame Joplin 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Voices section
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
