What happened to common sense? When the homespun philosopher says, "We don’t have money so we simply have to cut spending and make the hard choices," do they mean cut the spending that helps a family survive or cut the spending that is unessential?
Would it make sense to say, "We just can’t afford gas or bus fares so I’ll have to stop going to work. Just can’t afford to get there – gotta cut spending!" If our state and nation don’t invest in education, secure small businesses' credit, provide a safety net for the most vulnerable and invest in job creation, we will be like a family that cuts spending by cutting the means by which they can make money.
Only by getting families working and able to spend again will we be able to turn around the current crisis. Only by educating Americans will we stay competitive in the global market.
While we’re cutting spending and making the hard choices, let's consider what would be the best use of our resources, the sensible choice that will help us out of this hole — not keep us where we are.
Let’s get Americans working and earning again – it will even help out the wealthy. Don’t believe me? Look at Henry Ford’s $5 a day plan.
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Cynthia Bock-Goodner
Rochester
