Clear out our current politicians

By Marty Sixt

Where has our common sense gone? We are currently in a major recession and are trying to spend our way out of it by borrowing unimaginable amounts of money from China. This communist nation doesn't respect our democracy and freedom.

As part of this borrowing orgy, we are abandoning the principles that have made our nation strong.

We are becoming a country hooked on a government-sponsored entitlement mentality. This administration is throwing money into programs designed to reward and bail out people and organizations that don't deserve to be saved. These people and companies acted with reckless, selfish abandon in an attempt to enrich themselves at enormous cost to ordinary taxpayers.

Now the administration is talking about a second bailout.

When will this madness end?

Washington inevitably will raise taxes in a futile attempt to pay for these rescue programs. Increasing taxes is exactly the wrong way to increase employment and stimulate the economy. Lower taxes enable existing businesses to expand and new business to begin. The resulting economic activity generates new jobs and the new jobs produce more taxes. Everybody wins. It's basic Economics 101.

Congress and the Obama and Bush administrations have tried to borrow and spend their way out of this mess. Their actions have had a horrible effect on small business, which is the backbone of our economy.

It should be apparent that the underlying goal of the current administration is to lead our nation into a form of European socialism. History has a clear lesson: socialism is inferior to a democratic capitalistic society.

Unfortunately, few of our politicians are true patriots. All they really care about is staying in office and their decisions are made in that context. The American people will inevitably suffer.

It's time for us to stop this reckless, irresponsible and out-of-control spending by politicians of both parties. If we don't, we are selling our children and their children down the river. Our economy will deteriorate and our freedoms will be gradually eroded.

The politicians must hear our voices loud and clear. The November 2010 elections are our next chance to begin returning our nation to the people who made it great and to our children who will inherit it.

The best way to do this is to vote out the current crop of Washington politicians. Elect ethical and patriotic representatives who care about our nation and our people.

Marty Sixt of Iowa City is retired from an engineering sales, management and research career that included founding of two companies.