Dear editor:
Regardless of who wins next Tuesday half of the population will be disappointed, at best. And regardless of who wins, the serious problems the nation faces will not be "fixed." The past 100 years have given rise to an unholy collusion between the federal government and business that has completely corrupted the Founders vision. Surely there has been unconscionable accumulation of wealth for some on the "pro-business" side. But the rightful and popular condemnation of "greedy capitalists," should not leave faith in ever-expanding government programs intact. The anti-business mindset wrongly disparages the entire free market system, like throwing out the baby with the bathwater. History shows us that the only system in which the masses have risen out of the crushing poverty that afflicts so much of the world's population has been a system of free peoples and free trade (capitalism). The 'huddled masses' are far worse off in places that have veered, or never embraced, that founding principle.
There are two flaws in the premises of those who bow at the altar of federal programs. The first is that politicians somehow have a primary interest at heart other than their own. Of course we know that politics is filled with corruption and graft. If we continue to prop up the status quo based on supposed "good intentions" rather than examine the dismal results of 50+ years of government's "helping hand," we are doomed.
The second flawed premise is that economic principles can be suspended for government programs, because of "promises" made. The Federal Reserve cannot artificially prop up the currency indefinitely. The president was correct during the last campaign when he accused President Bush of "taking out a credit card from the bank of China." His scorn for the fact that Bush had added $5 T to the national debt in 8 years - more than the total of all administrations prior - was spot on. Unfortunately, President Obama has added even more than that in half the time.
I'm afraid we will get what we deserve. Although Congress continually registers an approval rating well under 15%, incumbents are re-elected 80% of the time. And the collusion continues. They can remain in their comfortable and affluent bubble only as long as we allow them to pit us against each other. Are we stupid or just lazy?
My prayer is that we the people come next Wednesday can rise to the challenge of being the Americans of 9/12/2001. We knew that day that we were not of two nations, no matter what the "R" and the "D" would have us believe. Be prepared to help your neighbor. It's going to be a rough ride.
Nancy Endres, Warren