"Have You Had Enough?"

Good grief I certainly hope so, but there are still people out there that just don't get it!  

I was told recently that a Russell County News reader was sick of all of the opinion articles that were being printed in the paper. I have often found that a lot of people also think that our food comes from super markets instead of our farmers.

Needless to say, I am quite proud of the interest that Russell County has taken in today's politics and that is why I am very optimistic towards this November 2nd election.

"Have You Had Enough?" was the Republican campaign slogan used in 1946 and I feel it is very appropriate for today. I read one column entitled "Have You Had O'nough?" which is probably more appropriate. My biggest fear however is what happens next?

All polls indicate that the Republicans have an excellent chance of winning the House and the Senate in 2011. This is all well and good, but if the Republicans take back control of the Congress, are they going to be willing to put their money where there mouth is?

The theme for the Democratically controlled Congress since 2006 has been Spend, Spend, Spend and let's Spend some more, a lot more! If we as a nation are to have any chance of saving our children's future, we have to cut spending and I mean drastically. This means everyone and I mean everyone has to be willing to sacrifice.

The bailouts have to stop!  unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks have to stop!  Like it or not, our country has been put on life support for the past three years.  

Our economy died in 2007, but instead of letting go and allowing all of the bad decisions go through a normal healing process; our Congress has stepped in and has delayed the inevitable.  First on the agenda must be to fix or repeal Obama's Heath Care Reform Bill.

Our employers big and small are already saying they will pass the added healthcare cost onto their employees.

We are getting a free lesson from our European friends on just how well socialism works.  

The French are finding it impossible to meet their financial burden of allowing their citizens to retire at the ripe old age of 60!

Recently, protestors were trying to prevent the French parliament from passing a bill that would raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.  

This measure would help prevent the pension system from going bankrupt.

Many French workers feel that the change would be a first step in eroding France's social benefits which include long vacations, contracts that make it hard for employers to lay off workers and a state-subsidized health-care system and favor "American-style capitalism."

The sad part is that this measure will again only postpone the enviable.  

History has consistently shown that Socialism does not work. It never has and it never will.

The real test is going be the 2012 election.  

Are the people that have so eagerly placed Mr. Obama in the White House going to let him continue or are they going to show him what change is all about?

Secondly, if the Republicans make the cuts in government spending that will make a difference; will the people let them continue for another term or boot them out because they are not willing make the sacrifices necessary to save this great Nation?

May God Bless…

Ron Phillips