We are broke!

I just called my dad to see how he was doing. I just wanted to say hi but all he wanted to do was complain about the Republicans, the cost of his meds, and trying to live on Social Security. (Even though he is quite well off and has a nice pension and benefits from his 30 years with IBM)

Just sad he has fallen into that mindset.

Actually- pre Bush, the economy was stronger, there was no war, my stock portfolio was growing at a much faster pace, there were more viable jobs to select from,unemployment was lower, our world reputation and status was stronger, money seemed to be flowing, you could fill your tank for under $40., you could actually walk out of the grocery store with 4 bags for under a $100.00,more people could afford to take a vacation, businesses weren't going under at such a rapid pace, more people could afford to dine out, Family Dollar/ Odd Lots were still considered cheap discount stores whereas, today, they have become the only stores that people can afford, illegal immigration wasn't advertised as being the monster problem that it is today, the country wasn't close to being in the debt that it is now in and the feeling of hopelessness wasn't so prevelent. Now, after almost 8 years of Bush's administration(yes, he's in charge, it's ok to blame him for things) and a Republican controlled Congress for 6 of the 8 years, we have what you see now. Was dad really that wrong to think that?He's frustrated. Alot of us are.Clinton had his issues too. He certainly wasn't without blame also. If you're going to blame Clinton for the many things that Repubs like to blame him for, to be truely objective about this, you must throw some flak Bush's way.Let's mention some of Bush's inadequacies also. Or, is he infallable? Fair enough? Oh, you wrote "money that was suppose to come from in order to better fund these programs"- by "these programs" you must mean the Iraq war which is a major contributor to this debt.

As much as I would never jump to defend Reagen or any of the others-it isn't just one person or administration or political party that has gotten us into this mess. We like to think that with a new administration that we will get change. Not as long as PACs, Lobbyists, Corporate America and the old time staffers have more clout with the people setting the policies and spending the money than the American people as a whole.

If you the history check on key people, you'll see just who has been around in Washington all the way back to the Reagen administration and how they have never been elected to a position---but have set the policy that has gotten us where we are.

Wow...out of all that could of ran and to end up with these two. The one golden boy who is good at talking and has not ran nothing...not even a cub scout pack and the other who is ready to fall over at any time. A sad day for Americans. Either can say what they want but in all the years not one has ever complied with there campaining promiss. Pick a D or pick a R and its all about hoping for the best. So many arguments over a D and R. It's so sad to see educated people pick sides. It never has been so much a D or R but rather the circimstances the president was handed and had to deal with. There are good time and there are bad times. So keep the fires going, build them high because it it so easy to blame a D or R for the things we are facing as Americans. Most people are so caught up in the arguments over D and R and pointing fingers wanting to blame someone when all along we the people are to blame.  Just a thought.

"Was dad really that wrong to think that?"

Not to mention that during the Reagon years was the largest shift of wealth ever seen by this country except for......now.

ARGH.. I just heard someone at work say, in regards to our National Debt that "We had a surplus under Clinton".. They would not believe me when I told them that Clinton only had individual budget surpluses for the year but that the overall national debt was alive and growing even then.