Time for citizens to admit their role

Once again it is time to consider the problem of our national debt. Our elected leaders busily accuse the other party of total guilt and seemingly act as though this is some new and unexpected problem. There is the usual wringing of hands and consternation. How did we get into such a financial mess? Can God ever forgive our carelessness?

The time has come that I confess. Just like Jacob Marley’s ghost confessed to Ebenezer Scrooge; I, the citizen taxpayer, made this chain of debt.

“I am fettered with the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, and yard by yard. I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wear it. Its weight and length continued to grow heavier and longer as I continued to labor on it. It is indeed a ponderous chain.”

It seems that the ponderous chain of debt we wear has now turned into a nation-eating tiger. As a responsible people we hold this tiger by the tail and are afraid to let go. I expect that we will be able to hang on a little longer, but time is running out. I am afraid that soon we must accept the challenge and start to live within our means. Somehow we must face the tiger and solve this problem. We caused this problem.

Steve Olsen

Lynnwood

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