The slogan of Nancy's Reagan's anti-drug effort back in the 1980s, "Just say no," should be used in dealing with the dangerously addictive spending habits of local, state of federal governments today.
Even after the resounding backlash of voters in the November elections, elected officials seem reluctant to make the tough choices.
Take the national debt ceiling, for instance.
Our debt is increasing exponentially, yet there are those who warn that the government would implode if will do not raise the debt limit.
This would, in effect, allow the government to keep spending while the matter of cutting is debated.
Somehow this seems to be putting the cart before the horse.
If there is no crisis, the politicians have little reason to get off the spending merry-go-round.
According to a recent Reuters survey, 71% of Americans don't want the debt level raised.
Less than 20% believe it should be increased.
This follows 27 months of continuous budget deficits, the longest period for such shortfalls in US history.
The study also found that a majority of respondents supported cutbacks in military spending and reducing budgets for regulatory efforts such as the SEC (Security and Exchange Commission).
Nearly half supported cutbacks in the national parks budgets and paring back enforcement of existing environmental laws.
The survey did not address the public's lack of interest in adding new and costly environmental regulations.
Items of immediate importance to those 65+ that will have a long-term effect on all Americans are the expensive benefit programs, which account for nearly half of current government spending.
Only 20% favor reducing Social Security retirement benefits.
And just 23% supported cutbacks for the Medicare program, even though the new health care bill calls for reducing spending by $500 billion.
Who will address these problems? It's obvious that the federal government is addicted to spending and the rush of power that goes with it.
But this situation may be even worse at the state and local levels.
Few states and municipalities are free from financial worries.
Once proud California and powerful New York are among the most financially troubled.
Large metropolitan areas, with costly social programs, are not the only cities suffering.
One might conclude the spending addiction has experienced an overdose.
As with an addiction, the patient (government in this case) must stop using the drug before they can be rehabilitated.
Trying to wean the addict away from using can be painful.
But until they stop their bad habits can't be changed.
This is the time for tough love and courageous actions.
If the politicians care about us and we care about our cities, states and country, we must be willing to make the right decisions in order to experience a recovery.
That is why when it comes to raising the debt limit and continuing the out-of-control spending, it is up to us to just say no.
Even after the resounding backlash of voters in the November elections, elected officials seem reluctant to make the tough choices.
Take the national debt ceiling, for instance.
Our debt is increasing exponentially, yet there are those who warn that the government would implode if will do not raise the debt limit.
This would, in effect, allow the government to keep spending while the matter of cutting is debated.
Somehow this seems to be putting the cart before the horse.
If there is no crisis, the politicians have little reason to get off the spending merry-go-round.
According to a recent Reuters survey, 71% of Americans don't want the debt level raised.
Less than 20% believe it should be increased.
This follows 27 months of continuous budget deficits, the longest period for such shortfalls in US history.
The study also found that a majority of respondents supported cutbacks in military spending and reducing budgets for regulatory efforts such as the SEC (Security and Exchange Commission).
Nearly half supported cutbacks in the national parks budgets and paring back enforcement of existing environmental laws.
The survey did not address the public's lack of interest in adding new and costly environmental regulations.
Items of immediate importance to those 65+ that will have a long-term effect on all Americans are the expensive benefit programs, which account for nearly half of current government spending.
Only 20% favor reducing Social Security retirement benefits.
And just 23% supported cutbacks for the Medicare program, even though the new health care bill calls for reducing spending by $500 billion.
Who will address these problems? It's obvious that the federal government is addicted to spending and the rush of power that goes with it.
But this situation may be even worse at the state and local levels.
Few states and municipalities are free from financial worries.
Once proud California and powerful New York are among the most financially troubled.
Large metropolitan areas, with costly social programs, are not the only cities suffering.
One might conclude the spending addiction has experienced an overdose.
As with an addiction, the patient (government in this case) must stop using the drug before they can be rehabilitated.
Trying to wean the addict away from using can be painful.
But until they stop their bad habits can't be changed.
This is the time for tough love and courageous actions.
If the politicians care about us and we care about our cities, states and country, we must be willing to make the right decisions in order to experience a recovery.
That is why when it comes to raising the debt limit and continuing the out-of-control spending, it is up to us to just say no.
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