a little tiny rant on politicians

So, I am just a little tiny bit (read: majorly) unhappy with politicians in general at the moment.

Why? you may ask.
Well, the democrats all want to be the big brother that subsidizes all the poor people and have a HUGE government entity that meddles in every aspect of life. I usually associate my ideals more with the Republicans...supposed fiscal conservatives that supposedly are for small government...but right now the Republican actions are screaming that the politicians don't actually believe in these values.

Example 1: We have seen massive fiscal irresponsibility from our Republican controlled government over the last 8 years or so.
Example 2: (this is what has me angry at the moment) The government plans to bail out certain big banks because they are (appropriately) failing because of reckless lending habits of the recent past. What the heck? If I don't want my money to go to habit poor people (i.e. lazy welfare/unemployment abusers), I even more adamantly protest tax money bailing out a company that by all rights inherent in a free market should fail. Good grief! Let them feel the painful consequences of their bad decisions. They need a reality check.

Really, the founding fathers did not (in my opinion) intend for these career politicians who have no real life skills or common sense. There is a disassociation from real life that is startling.

I may have to do something drastic like run for a public office someday to be someone who is not just a nay-sayer...but who would elect this opinionated chica?

Civic Responsibility

Just a thought.
How, in literally one or two generations, did we go from hard working people who would do without until they could afford something to the "gotta have it now" and entitlement attitudes of today?
I'm not exempt.
Even though I have had the most excellent of examples in my dad and mom, when my paid for Saturn got totaled I bought a new 4runner, a good portion of that being owed to the bank. Yeah, kicking myself for that one.
So, we're selling it and will never buy a car again without paying cash for it.

I see a lot of extreme in this attitude here in Michigan and it's driving me nuts (I'm sure, though, that it's the same all around the country). This state is in what the politicians call a one state deep recession. But you couldn't tell that by looking at the mall or restaurant parking lots. I read of people having 5, 10, 50, or hundreds of thousands of dollars in credit card debt. How can that happen? I guess we can say that many people's parents did not teach them about credit cards, but come on... there's a level of common sense that should be involved here.

Since when did cable become a necessity? $8 for a coffee? Seems like an everyday occurance for most. Saving for retirement....what's that?

I worry about the affects that the impending explosion of bankruptcies will have on this nation. I am having the impression that building up my year's supply of food storage should be high on my priority list once my house is ready for me to put stuff in. It may sound drastic....but really, the writing is on the wall; things cannot continue like they are without some serious consequences.

So, my July conclusion:
We have a civic duty to get our houses in order.

Oh, and go read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover.