Everyone's Opinion Newsletter

America needs to wake up! We have let our guard down for far too long and it is about time we stand up for what is right! We need to stop sitting on the sidelines and start making things happen. There is no change that government is going to make that will be beneficial to the common hard working man, woman, or family. We need to step up and respond to the complete takeover of our government by two political parties starved for fame, money, and power.

There are very few politicians today that know what it is like to make tough decisions. To me, a tough decision isn't whether to raise taxes or not. That's easy... DON'T; try cutting spending! A tough decision is whether to buy milk or bread, pay the insurance, or buy food. That is a tough decision! These are the character building situations I want to know my politician has been through. Most of these people have never needed to worry about making payroll, coming up with a revolutionary idea, or even an original idea for that matter. Most of them are lawyers and judges making the big bucks for suing the pants off this company or that for someone spilling hot coffee on themselves or someone that didn't realize their allergy to lettuce would cause them to have an allergic reaction to the salad. Can we please wake up? And we wander why later we hear of corruption scandals one after another and then we reelect these people?

I make a motion to be the first person to stand up and say, "ENOUGH!" These people are not common like you and me. They are living the high life. Time to start paying more common salaries, giving more common benefits, and cutting the size of government! We need to start having candidates offer to take a pay cut for the benefit of the taxpayers.

We need to start voting for people that offer to do the job for less. Most of the politicians today won't do it, so this can be our way of getting the everyday hardworking individual into government. I've never had it easy and neither have most people I know, so why do we continue to pay our politicians so much? I challenge the full-time politicians to show their support for their constituents and offer to cut their salaries and benefits. From our county commissioners to Ed "Spendell" himself. Why do they need to make so much money? Are you "public servants" or not? Then serve us well and save us money. We need to start running government like a business. Who is giving us the best value for our money, and who is constantly looking to save us money? I would even be willing to pay bonuses for finding ways to save us money. Is anyone else out there with me? We need to start local and work our way out. We need common people to step up and be willing to run for office on the basis of being just like us! I, for one, would be more than willing to support someone who does so or may even be willing to stand up and do it myself. How many of us are there? I'm sure we have them out numbered! WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Paul

Altoona, PA

What do you think?