It's time for us all to live within our means

It appears we embrace a bureaucratic government and other entities, which cling to the mantra "fix the problem by dumping more money into it" philosophy. Rarely does this actually work in the long-term scheme of things for two reasons; you shouldn't print worthless money, and the root of the problem has yet to be addressed. The taxpayer ends up feeding the government machine.

How convenient it must be, should you need money, to raid the Monopoly board game of its cash and property, or ask a greedy neighbor for a loan, who is more than happy to own a piece of you. How simple it is to put our children in debt for generations to come because we are presently reluctant to, or cannot make ends meet. Shall we continue to borrow against our future generations in hopeful perpetuity of our current status quo and lifestyle? Was it part of your retirement plan to own a piece of major U.S. companies? Sounds a bit like socialism, with taxpayers bankrolling mistakes made by bad decisions. Did you know that your grandchildren will still be paying off this generation's debt will into their working years?

Americans don't have $700 billion, not do we have the money to bailout the auto industry or, on a  personal level, levy money for schools who insist upon keeping all of, and adding to, athletic programs. Isn't it time for us to downsize our grandiose appetite and live within our means on federal, state, local and personal levels.

LAURIE WADKINS

Priest River