I never thought that I would be ashamed of being a Midwesterner. Today, I am. I grew up in Iowa with the great neighboring state of Wisconsin across the Mississippi. A state with great cheese, wonderful apples and beautiful lakes. Today, it is a state with cowardly politicians who run to Illinois rather than conduct the people”s business in a democratic way and people who storm their state capitol and cause damage. Healthy teachers accept “sick slips” from doctors who are handing them out like party favors. Isn”t that a marvelous way to teach children how to lie?
The magnitude of disrespect for elected officials is unfathomable. I do not consider the outcome should be anyone”s win other than the state of Wisconsin pulls itself out of the dismal financial crisis that it is in. Toward that goal all in Wisconsin need to work to find a solution. Governor Scott Walker was elected to get the job done and I commend him for what he is doing.
So as we watch Wisconsin in crisis, we had better look at our own state. Just what is happening in Sacramento? Oh, and let”s look at what is happening right here in Lake County.
If the state is in trouble, so is each county. Mom and pop know that if their family spends more money than comes into the household, sooner or later it will bankrupt the family. Realize that the state and federal governments do not earn money; they simply take it from the governed one way or another and redistribute it.
Governor Brown would like very much to raise taxes to help cover California”s debt. How many programs can he cut? How many new bills will be introduced at about $20,000 each just to introduce each? Where will it stop?
The federal government has not been getting enough money from us to make its legislated distribution, be it to congressional salaries, aid to foreign countries, illegal immigrants, art institutes, and the list goes on, so they have mortgaged our soul to China. What happens when China says “no more” and wants us to pay up?
Unless the states and the federal government get their financial situations cleared up, it is predicted the United States will be bankrupt within two years or less. The most powerful country in the world will be bankrupt. Are you ready for that?
Leona M. Butts
Clearlake Oaks
