Dodging the Cow Patties

Walking in a cow pasture can be hazardous to your footwear or bare feet! Nothing is more distressing than to "step" into a fresh cow patty and have that green goo ooze through your toes!

As each day passes, our lives have become more cautious financially. In the past, we would have hopped over the fresh piles of cow manure and shrugged off an occasional misstep. But now we are seeing less green pasture and more evidence of the cow's indifferent placement of waste

That green pasture used to be our retirement and golden years. Now we are finding that only some of us will make it to the gate before it is closed shut!

Quite frankly, I don't worry so much about my retirement as having to work so hard for so little every year. I live in a house that was built in 1924. There is nothing fancy about it. I drive a car that is over 13 years old and paid for. I don't go to bars or spend my money at the boats. I just work and hope that I can be there for my grandchildren.

The National Debt is like one big manure pile to me. People keep sorting through expenditures and claiming that someone will have to do without if we cut this program or that one. Well again, I have to say, CUT FROM THE TOP DOWN.

Here are some of my budget suggestions:

Let all those who work for the Government and make over $250,000 a year including benefits and vacations, take a 20% cut across the board. We are demanding that you focus on the job at hand and you no longer have permission to take time away from your elected office to be on a campaign trail.

All extraneous travel must be paid for out of your own pockets. Car services are no longer part of a necessity for your office or staff. Buy an electric car or car-pool.

Attendance at fund-raisers will be limited to 2 weeks a year. This will cut your dress allowance and other expenses.

We do not need a study on the mating habits of some obscure insect or animal. Nor do we need a new memorial or statue for the next 5 years. This will cut billions of dollars.

Running for re-election is limited to 3 weeks before a primary and 4 Weeks for the general election. This will keep your focus on the job that you were elected to do and will save our country from ruinous debt. The American people are tired of seeing your face on the TV for months at a time.

All bills that are passed should should not exceed 100 pages. If you can't say what you mean within those guidelines, then you are in the wrong business.

Earmarks will be banned. We will hire a school teacher who has been laid off due to budget cuts to red-pencil anything that smacks of favoritism for any particular state.

Town Hall meetings will be mandatory for your districts. That way, you can listen to what the people want instead of sending out form letters or e-mails. You will set these up at your own expense.

The Military must be paid for their services and without interruption. Again, we will create a job for a Teacher who has been laid off to red-pencil expenditures like $100 toilet seats or $50.00 screwdrivers.

All agencies created in the past 50 years will be subject to scrutiny. Like any reality show, if you have not made a contribution to the betterment of America, you will be eliminated.

Job Evaluations will not be limited to an election, but report cards will be issued each session as to how well you have listened to your constituents and how many items have been cut from the budget to eliminate debt through your votes and attendance.

Foreign Aid will be limited to natural disasters. Any other good-will offerings will come out of the pocket of the person who offered it as a representative of the Government.

We as Americans have been forced to dodge those cow patties long enough. If we know enough on how to get a pasture cleared of cow manure, then we should expect no less from our elected officials to do the same.

The era of the 20's should continue to be a warning to us all. We cannot gamble away our futures based on worthless paper. Are we able to learn from harsh lessons of history or are we doomed to repeat it?

You cannot ignore the issue of cow manure forever, it has a way of making its presence known. And the more it piles up, the less scenic our vistas will be. The grass on the pastures will come back eventually if you move a few cows and let it rest a season.

I want green pastures for my children and grandchildren to enjoy. I am willing to bypass my own retirement to turn this situation around while we still have the time and resources to do so.