PSSST: Someone is lying, America

America is broke? Oh, really? Golly gee, how can that be; we're the richest nation on Earth - and we're broke? Quantum physics aside, is it possible to be in two places at the same time? Not in my world, so the obvious question must be asked: Who's lying; because somebody sure is? I smell a really big con job and the American people are the intended victims. But hey, maybe Abe Lincoln was wrong? Maybe you can fool all of the people all of the time?

America's net worth - that's value of assets minus debt - is about $60 trillion. Yet our government, which is supposed to represent and protect all citizens, now has a $14 trillion debt. That debt to equity ratio indicates that America is really in damned fine shape. So, what's the problem? The answer is simple; it's a lack of revenue that our government is receiving in tax revenues, coupled with spending priorities. Right wing corporatists want only spending on wars, corporate subsidies and tax cuts for the rich, not to meet the needs of our citizens and to support our government.

The United States now spends more on our military and its adventures than the rest of the world's nations combined - yet we fail to meet the health care, education and other critical needs of our own citizens. Our representative government is the only entity capable of maintaining a civilized society. Perhaps we need a serious discussion about those Republican "family values" we hear so much about?

J. ALBERT ROWE

bscutter@frontier.com

Coeur d'Alene