I think it's interesting, especially in today's economy, that the only time our country has had zero national debt was in 1835, under the Democratic-Republican president Andrew Jackson. Even at our country's founding, thanks to the Revolution, we were in debt by about $76 million dollars, and after 1835 it has steadily increased. Many argue that it's impossible for the U.S. to ever get back there, that the best we can do is end the deficit spending and balance the annual budget. Others say that to fund the ever increasing number of rojects the government undertakes, deficit spending is the only way to go.
My take? I believe the deficit spending is going to occur but that as a nation we owe it to ourselves to change where that money goes. We need to stop funding wars in two nations and focus on protecting our home. We need to stop spending millions on the war against drugs and focus on educating our children. We need to let NASA (and yes, I am a huge fan of NASA and the valuable work they do) fall into the hands of private enterprise, let space exploration be undertaken by entrepreneurs, and use that money for other research and development projects to help make our world more efficient. We need to spend more money on the health and well-being of our people, around the world.
Why don't we? Because the politicians are too afraid to make these choices for fear of losing the next election. Because the American people care more about their little corner of the county than they do about the nation. Because the media plays everything larger than life and out of proportion to reality, and we buy into it. We need to stop and take a real look at things, as Americans, find our place in the world stage as leaders, and show that we can care for our selves and the world, without hatred and anger. Do you think that's possible?
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