It’s the economy, Culpeper

Gordon Meriwether
Published: February 20, 2008

Last week, my travels took me to Los Angeles and central Illinois. I took the time to talk with my traveling companions, my drivers and my customers about their concerns for our nation today. Just like the elders in my last editorial, it's the economy. Not the war in Iraq, not illegal immigration, not the health care system, not taxes, not school violence and not even terrorism. It's the economy.

Under this president, they have lost ground. Every person said they were worse off financially. Interestingly, they don't blame the Republicans or the Democrats. They blame the White House and Congress.

"It's about the sound bites to get votes" one driver told me. "They'll say and do anything to keep their job."

This reminded me of the Gilmore-Beyer gubernatorial campaign's infamous slogan "No Car Tax." It caught on even though it made no economic sense. Our counties couldn't survive without the revenue it generated, but that mattered not. Gilmore was elected and out the tax went. The ensuing economic chaos resulted in the embarrassment of the Republican governor and the Republican General Assembly being unable to pass a budget for the commonwealth.

Today's foolishness is easy to see. The greed and competitiveness of the mortgage and banking industry, coupled with the lack of regulatory common sense, resulted in the sub prime economic meltdown that has pulled us into one of the most serious financial crises since the Depression.

Our government's answer- An incentive "give back" package to stimulate the economy. This incentive compensation was passed by the Democratic Congress and signed by the president on Feb. 13. It could mean $1,200 in my pocket. But wait … I won't see a penny until May- I guess the economy can wait until May to be stimulated.

And with that in mind, we are told that we are running up the largest deficit in our nation's history. Our nation is being financed by Chinese and Saudi "friends" who have it in their best interest to keep us in deficit spending to maximize not only their return on their investment, but also to keep the American juggernaut weak and dependent. Is there any plan for us ever to get out from under this economic mess- I guess we can sell the country and use the profits to pay off the debt.

And with all this, the White House wants to make the tax cuts permanent- The very tax cuts that have always resulted in deficits- Spend more and make less- I am not happy about paying any taxes, but they are the price we pay for a free nation. The freedoms we have are being rapidly diminished, if not threatened, by this weakening economy and by the absence of common sense in our leadership and their lack of political will.

Do you need a fresh example-  The president's latest budget has no funding, that's right no funding, for the war in Iraq in 2010! He's planning on our next president funding it with a special appropriation. 

We are not going to plan for the expense of fighting the war. We are going to worry about that when we have to. No matter where you stand on the war, or which political party you identify with, this is bizarre gamesmanship that does disservice to not only the taxpayers but also to our brave men and women in uniform.

What is going on- When did we lose control- When did it all become a game-

But remember, Culpeper, as long as all politics (and economics) are local, we can make a difference and begin the economic revolution to take back our community and our nation right here in our backyard.

As an idea, let's take on U.S. Rep. Cantor and whoever his opponent is and make the economy the major campaign issue. What if the Town Council candidates are challenged to come up with an economic platform- Let's ask the tough questions, ignore the sound bites and dig into our economic problems in depth. When they squirm with difficulty and pronounce gobblygook, have them explain it, no matter how difficult it is for them or us. It's the economy, Culpeper, and it will be for the foreseeable future.

Gordon Meriwether is an independent columnist who lives in Culpeper. He appears every other Thursday in the Star-Exponent. E-mail