In 1789, Thomas Jefferson wrote to James Madison, "The earth belongs to the living; the dead have neither power nor right over it."
Jefferson believed that no generation has the right to obligate the one that follows.
A scant 200-odd years from that date, our "leaders" believe their capacity is greater than Jefferson's.
This administration is chaining our future generations to lives of perpetual debt.
It sickens me to think that instead of leaving a legacy we can be proud of, we're condemning our children and our children's children to a quality of life far below that which we desire for them.
Two important lessons from history are being ignored: That "spreading the wealth" is really spreading the poverty, and that it's not about "leveling the playing field."
It's about developing outstanding players who can win by making the best use of their abilities regardless of the ballpark.
We've heard more than enough American mea culpas from this administration to last a lifetime.
America has broken its back to get where it is. We've earned our right to "excessive" consumption--two wage earners, long commutes and overtime, no midday siestas, no eight-week government-sponsored holidays, and, most of all, personal sacrifice, hard work, stress, and risk-taking.
And we've earned (and truly value) our national sovereignty! America's sovereignty is not for sale either to an international judiciary or for global constraints.
Despite our years of international charity, we've too often been thanked by condemnation, both inside and outside the UN.
Enough is enough. The 2010 elections will show our leadership that America had enough of their devastating policies. God, indeed, will bless America.
Alan Branfman
Spotsylvania