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When Will We Return To A Value-Based Country?

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DONALD J. MYERS

A Mind Of My Own

Published: February 13, 2009

I recall when I was a young lad and our family of five children, later to be seven, lived with my grandparents during World War II. My father had lost his house during the Depression along with his job.

My grandparent's home was a three-bedroom house with one bathroom, a large kitchen, dining room, parlor and unfinished basement. My two adult aunts also lived in the house.

Remember, at this particular time all the young men were in one of the military services and would be gone for the duration of the war.

Years later, when the TV show, "The Waltons" was so popular, my own children could not understand how a nickel could be so much money or why there was a shortage of so many items. It was a golden opportunity to teach them about what it was like during hard times and how we all coped with it.

We are now facing some hard times, but nothing like the Depression or World War II. The closest thing to today's difficulties, in my opinion, was the recession in the 1970s, but we are acting like this is the greatest threat since the Depression. What makes it even worse is that too many seem to think that the government is the only entity that can solve the problem.

There are families that are truly hurting, but as a country we remain strong. Unemployment is about 7 percent and we have not seen it that high for years. Las Vegas reported a drop of about 3.5 percent in revenues for 2008 versus 2007.

The car industry is in deep trouble and the government provided funds; however, now the government is about to enact more stringent environmental restrictions that will cost about three times as much as the bailout.

Does that make sense at this particular time?

All types of government entities are submitting requests to the federal government for "free money." Countless businesses are doing the same. Why not? If anything appears to be "free," the line grows with each passing day.

Various CEOs or company presidents have done some extremely stupid and illegal acts that resulted in their companies facing closures. Their companies along with their workers have paid the price, and hopefully these people will be prosecuted. The latest spate of layoffs from major U.S. companies adds to the panic.

One would think that our political leaders have the answers to many of our current problems, but many of them are the ones who created the problems with their interference in the first place.

The "stimulus package" does not need a single vote from a Republican, but the president is making a definite effort to have as many Republicans as possible sign on. If this program is so great and it does not need Republican support, why not go with it? When it succeeds, the Democrats can take all the credit. The president is hedging his bets so that when it does not work, he can say that both parties supported it. Government spending has never worked to pull a country out of a recession and if it did, we would never have a recession that lasted any period of time.

We are going to spend a huge amount of money that has absolutely nothing to do with stimulating the economy. It is merely growing the size of government. It is time to return to fundamental values that served us so well in the past. Live within your means. Distinguish the difference between needs and wants. Assist family and friends. Support honest politicians and eliminate dishonest ones. Become involved in the local area as necessary.

This is not the end of the world, and definitely not the worst time for the United States. It is a time to demand leadership at all levels throughout the country.

Donald J. Myers, a retired colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a regular columnist for Hernando Today. He lives in Spring Hill.

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