The people of this state, and this nation must realize that it takes money to run a society. Despite all Republican rhetoric, this money must come from the people ... in the form of taxes. Every civilized society, since the beginning of time, has collected taxes. Now, here's the quagmire: Our society, which is composed of the most egocentric, entitled bunch the world has ever seen doesn't believe that THEY should pay taxes to run the nation. They believe that by privatizing everything, the need for government will vanish - sure, we've already privatized the prisons, some aviation functions, utilities and so many other things. It's a disaster. Add to this the fact that we have no protectionist laws, since privatization has allowed everything to go to the lowest bidder - and the cheapest products come from outside our borders. So, yes, YOU, Mr./Ms. American consumer are responsible for this mess. When you drive your Toyota (Nissan, Honda etc.) to Wal-Mart you are essentially giving the big middle finger to your country, your way of life and your future.

The problem is multi-fold: Why do the cheapest products come from elsewhere? Because we Americans feel like we are entitled to higher pay for our precious labor. This system only works if companies can afford to A)pay that higher pay, and you are B) irreplacable.

So, we need an economy that produces consumer products, using domestic union labor, and that those wage earners pay a fair tax. Until this all happens, there is NO WAY we will ever regain our status as a great nation. There is only so much money, and as we pour it out, it doesn't come back ... and eventually the coffers will be empty.

We need to have a system that A) Exports more than it imports  B) Promotes labor which earns a living wage C) Taxes that wage [no problem a guy making $30/hour will feel a 30% tax LESS than a guy making $9 an hour will feel a 10% tax; instant tax base]. There need to be laws which support this philosophy. Granted, it's oversimplified for discussion, but the bottom line is the same. This is the system we had from the end of WWII, through the 70s and into the 80s - Reaganomics was the beginning of the end of this great nation. Don't believe me? Read the paper. Try and find something that is produced here!

Write to your legislator and press for these dramatic, but necessary changes. Think before you go to Wal-Mart and buy foreign made junk, REFUSE to do business with companies which use offshore call centers, and for goodness sake - buy a Ford or Chevy instead of a Honda. There is absolutely no merit to the claims that they are inferior any longer. Don't believe me? See JD Power website.