Where are the great leaders of yesteryear?

Dorothy A. Hughes
Published: April 19, 2008

This is an exciting time for United States’ citizens. There is the possibility of electing our first female for president or a black American or a brave war hero!  No matter who wins, I hope he/she will live up to our expectations.  But when I think of the huge amounts of money spent to attain this prestigious office, I cringe.  Honor and integrity are not the requirements to become president; money is buying the office.

I remember the brilliant wise people who served us during and immediately after World War II.  The caliber of recent congressional members is sorely lacking.  Bipartisanship is inconceivable to them.
They do not have the welfare of our citizens at heart. They are enamored of their own self-importance and power.

Private industry is just as bad: FAA in cahoots with the airlines?  Safety is now unimportant? Whistle-blowers are being punished, rather than rewarded for their responsibility? 

Oil companies make billions while the rest of the country is going bankrupt? CEO’s are given outrageous retirement bonuses to get rid of them after they have ruined their own companies?

We have a democratic leadership that sends Congress on another vacation rather than allowing a vote on telecommunication immunity that would allow us to apprehend terrorists. We have state representatives that pass unneeded pork bills to aid their own states at the expense of the whole country. 

Our government departments are taking jobs away from Americans by sending government work out to other countries at a supposedly cheaper cost. What about the cost of unemployment insurance for these Americans? What about security (i.e. passports) in these foreign countries?

Congress has no right to bail out any mortgage company that was stupid enough to give high appraisals on any property. They should be made to pay for their own duplicity. 

Nor should they rescue people who love beyond their means.  What they can do to prevent a further recession is make the mortgage companies renegotiate all loans and do away with the graduated interest loans entirely. This will save not only the homeowner, but also the banks, as they surely don’t want to be burdened with thousands of properties bringing in no income.

Where can we find leaders of yesteryear to get us out of this mess?

DOROTHY A. HUGHES

Warrenton