Making Tough Choices Isn't Necessarily Bad

The last few years have seen most American workers getting by without cost-of-living raises. Most understand that in times of high unemployment, looming layoffs and companies shutting their doors, the very existence of most jobs is not a given.

With taxpayers demanding their government hold the line and cut back wherever possible, the majority of Americans recognize that irresponsible spending is unwise — on both the personal and government levels. Backlash from yesterday's unsustainable spending will continue to haunt this country and its citizens for many years to come.

And, although it may be difficult to understand how any of the fallout from an economic downturn could be positive, there really is something good that can come out of this mess we've created: We can pull together to put government back into its rightful place. Instead of an out-of-control monster that micromanages nearly every aspect of Americans' lives, we have the opportunity to turn government back into a servant of the people as the Founding Fathers intended.

But in order to streamline the government and make it work more efficiently while paying the bills as we go along, everyone is going to have to be on the same page.

Americans will be asked to sacrifice, and how they respond will determine the future direction of this country and our children.

No one welcomes these changes. In a perfect world, jobs and benefits would remain untouched, annual raises would be a sure thing, and no one would be hurt by the economy. But this isn't a perfect world, and for this country to get itself on the right track, we will have to all work together.

It's hard to watch the events unfolding in Wisconsin without drawing parallels to reactions to government initiatives to cut spending in Europe.

When the people of Greece and France rioted over government moves to reduce social programs, most Americans shook their heads in disbelief. Now, efforts to cut the state budget have turned the streets of Madison, Wis., into peaceful echoes of Paris and Athens, and that's a pity.

Taxpayers across this country need to man up and accept the truth: We've nurtured a government that's now too fat to walk through the door.

Every citizen shares in the responsibility for reducing spending to sustainable levels.

REPRINTED FROM THE JACKSONVILLE DAILY NEWS.

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