CAN WE SURVIVE AFTER THE ELECTIONS

We know that as Americans who were living freely and enjoying the extra things in life, vacations, new electronic devices (ipods, flat screen TVs, the latest in cell phone technology), new homes, new cars, etc. are no longer able to afford those luxuries.

We know that we were all living beyond our means or we wouldn't be having the problems we're having today.

We know that it all started with the Bush administration as we have heard over and over again and we know that it has continued to hurt us since the Obama administration has been in office.

We know that it could have been worse if we had continued down the same spiralling path we were on. We know that while we are not at the point of having all the extras, we are surviving with the necessities in life and struggling daily to hold on to them. We also know that things are improving overall, just not fast enough for those in need.

And when we are in need, we panic and become afraid. We become afraid of the unknown and when you hear all the negativity out there, you don't know what to think or do.

Do they really "know" what they are saying? Do they hear themselves? The state of Alaska receives more federal money to survive than any other state. We the tax payers are supporting the state of Alaska.

In May of this year, Alaska applied for and received $30 million for education jobs through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act. Prior to that, they had received upwards of $207 Million. Starting in 2000, when Sarah Palin was mayor, she hired a lobbyist to get her federal funding. [500,000- youth shelter; 900,000- sewer repairs; 15 Million- rail and bus project; 500,000 -mental health center; 500,000- for the purchase of federal land; 450,000 to remodel an agricultural processing facility] She secured approximately $27 Million in federal earmarks.

In February 2008, as Governor, she requested an additionial $200 Million in earmarks through the late Senator Stevens office.

Alaska receives Pell Grants for further education through our federal government; federal funding for clean up of contaminated sites; federal funding for medical needs to include prescription programs; social security; and transportation, among the vast number of other programs.

If these people quit getting the government "bailout" as they like to call it, what would happend to each and every one of them?

We are all those people.

Every state in these United States relies heavily on funding from our government. Some a lot more than others, but the needs are still there. Granted, we are in a debt that goes beyond anything we could have imagined in our life time, but we were out of debt before 2000 and we will be there again.

Logically, we all know that it takes money to fix things. If your roof leaks, you pay the roofer to fix it or you buy the materials and fix it yourself. If they car breaks, you pay the mechanic or buy the part and fix it yourself.

Our economy is broken, it will take money to fix it. We hired the President to fix it, he has the tools-- but we don't want to give him the money to buy the parts. So, unless we want to continue down the slow path of recovery, we have to give the man the money to buy the parts.

It's plain and simple. No oversight---free spending without accountability got us in this mess and now we are afraid of continuing in that path. This administration has passed many, 100+, of the promises he made to Americans who voted for him and yet it is our own fears that allow us to mistrust and misjudge.

So, it time to quit this back and forth bickering because it is getting old and most of all, it gets us nowhere.