Greek-like debacle can happen here

I hope that everyone in this city, county, state and country is paying very close attention to what is happening in the Greek capital of Athens, and more importantly, just what brought these riots about. The quickest way to kill a government and the nation that it serves is to raise taxes and reduce services. Does that sound familiar to anyone?

The reason I say that is because if we are not extremely careful, the very same thing is going to happen here. I am not saying that I want to see this happen — in fact, just the opposite — but unless our elected officials wake up and actually start representing We The People who put them there, I believe, sadly, that it is inevitable.

What is even sadder is that if it ever does happen here, our elected officials are going to hem and haw and do everything that they can to cast the blame elsewhere, instead of accepting responsibility for killing the country that they claim to serve.

John S. Paul

Mukilteo