As I watch the charade in Washington, D.C. regarding the debt ceiling, I feel like I am back on that farm, desperately trying to hang onto a lost cause, blaming everyone but myself and my spouse for the disaster. There are so many analogies in my story that it is sobering. Over the years, this government has purchased millions of acres of land, as well as thousands of buildings, with the ensuing cost of upkeep and regulation. Our government has been spending money with reckless abandon on wars and policing operations all over the world to make us look rich and powerful. We have welcomed anyone into the country who wishes to come legally or illegally, providing meals, medical, housing, and work. For years we've had lavish "Christmases" of entitlement spending to millions of Americans backed by invisible money that the country doesn't have. We've gifted countries all over the world with promises of billions of dollars in aid. And when reality has tried to wave a hand for warning, the politicians have simply turned their heads in denial and demanded more from the highest producing "sheep" through higher taxes. When the tax revenues don't pan out, the politicians get fierce with more regulation. The "sheep" either quit producing or run away to greener pastures -- other countries. While we foolishly tried to stimulate income by more spending, the US president and Congress have tried to stimulate the country's economy with their own poorly devised spending plans. Yep. The analogies are endless.
The time has come for the American government to take personal responsibility for its own mess. There can be no getting mad at the Chinese because they expect payment on loans they fairly issued. There can be no finger-pointing at businesses which see no point in enabling poor managers of the country to spend any further. There can be no gnashing of teeth at those who recognize the quandary and who seek to cut spending and sell off assets -- and the governmentwill have to sell assets. The party is over and the piper has to be paid. The American people are going to have to suck it in for some tough times ahead. Some "sheep" may have to find their own grass and others may have to find their own shelter. The managers of the farm have misused their power and cannot be the providers anymore. Default and bankruptcy can be avoided, but not with more debt and not with continuing denial and definitely not with more spending. Just as was true in our case, the country is at a point where it must make the hard choices -- face the facts or face ultimate bankruptcy. I pray that our representatives in Washington, as well as all American citizens, will face the facts before it is too late.
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