By Les Dunaway

This week was interesting! We had sort of a replay of how we got where we are – circling the drain, that is. We are running out of runway on the debt ceiling and on the general subject of getting spending under control.

First, we got the news that the housing crash has past the losses of the Great Depression [read]. The underlying causes of the housing crash are worth reviewing – government interference / social engineering, government malfeasance, risk management incompetence / malfeasance.

Second, we got more news of government malfeasance [read]. The level of arrogance required in this matter seems truly astounding, but perhaps it’s not so astounding. Parents know that if a child is allowed to misbehave without consequences, the misbehavior will continue to escalate until there are consequences. One can only hope that the eventually necessary severity of consequences are survivable.

Third, we got an example of consequences [read] [read]. Moodys is the second agency to warn the US. S&P raised the issue previously [read].

Fourth, we evidence that there are still a few good men in Washington. [read].

All in all, not a bad week. Our country has a long history of being focused on living our lives and letting things go that should have been addressed – two examples come to mind, Pearl Harbor and Osama ben Laden. In a conversation with a friends this past week, one said “I just don’t get involved in politics”. The group turned on him and said “Sorry! That’s not one of the options. Every day political decisions are made that affect you life and lives of children down the generations. You ARE involved! If you fail to make your voice heard, you are failing in your duty to yourself, your family, your faith and your country”. Our friend didn’t really want to hear that, but he wasn’t willing to deny it.

Happily, millions of our countrymen are coming to understand that truth and are standing up and getting involved. We have a few months to decide whether “the American experiment” will succeed or fail. I am encouraged by those few good men in Washington and the millions across our nation who support them.