Give U.S. a fighting chance

By Steve Rathje

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President Barack Obama is right about something - some manufacturers are seeing more profits during this continuing economic downturn. However, the reason isn't because of an increase in sales from an uptick in the economy, but rather, the reduction in the financial obligations of the companies reporting.

With sales continuing to fall to the point where the amount of money going out exceeds that which is coming in, drastic measures have to be taken, spending has to be reduced, waste better controlled, and the labor force re-evaluated.

For example, let's say you take home $3,000 per month, and when times are good, $3,500 due to overtime. Now let's assume your financial obligations consume all $3,500, and then a slowdown, no more overtime, and $500 less to work with. Do you make up the difference with a credit card, or do you cut expenses? Cutting your expenses like the companies do, and the government should, shifts your financial statement from red to black, not because of more money coming in, but rather, less money going out.

Profit and loss is not an indicator of how the overall economy is doing, but how the individual company, or perhaps your own finances, are doing. The same holds true when the government tells us that 175,000 jobs were created in the last month, without telling us at the same time that roughly 350,000 people signed up for unemployment during that same period.

The truth needs to be told by those who represent us. Unfortunately, it's not, because if it had we would have been constantly reminded of the debt, the deficit, the nearly 24 million Americans who are unemployed or underemployed, how 47 million are on food stamps, and how millions continue to lose their homes to foreclosure.

We would also be reminded of how the dollar is shrinking in value and credibility, the threat of terror and nuclear war that remains at our doorstep, our porous borders, the rise in fuel and grocery costs, the number of jobs that leave our shores, tax cuts overshadowed by tax increases, and how our freedom is compromised.

More than anything, we'd hear about solutions and taking. drastic measures. But this president and his administration have chosen class warfare. They believe in an unachievable Utopian ideology, and to blame others for everything they've done and are still doing that cannot work.

Our hopes rest on replacing them, and others, with those with the experience and knowledge to debate and implement constitutionally based, common-sense plans and solutions for empowering the people, rather than the government. Give the country we call home a fighting chance.

Steve Rathje of Cedar Rapids is founder/CEO of International Procurement Services Inc. and is a Republican candidate for 1st District Congress. Comments: srathje@ipsinc-usa.com