Bush’s polices created our economic problems

Conservatives have blamed President Barack Obama for putting us into so much debt through his economic bailout and have bashed his proposed health care ideas.

Regarding the bailout: It only became necessary after years of President George W. Bush's “free market,” no-regulation system. That system led to irresponsible business practices that, when homeowners couldn't pay their mortgages, made banks fail. Republicans say how badly the package worked and how Obama failed, but fixing an economy as big as ours is like trying to turn a battleship.

Regarding health care: It isn't a product one can go shopping for. Capitalism works for profit by competition and lowering prices; when you're sick, you need help now - you don't have time to shop for which doctor is cheapest or is having a sale.

Many other countries have government-sponsored health care yet have few problems with it. U.S. citizens also need to understand that we're the country where people get marketed to about the newest, most expensive procedures, drugs and tests, even if they don't need them.

The most curious part of this is that I, a 15-year-old, seem to understand this better than many adults.

Karl Salamon

Cedar Rapids