1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005 all have two things in common, non election years and Republicans controlling both houses of Congress. Doing nothing and just wanting to point blame on long term history is equivalent to standing around while you’re on a boat sinking and not doing anything but point blame at someone. It is simply fruitless. Both parties have had both time and opportunity to make this more of a concern and to propose changes.

Also the extra pork in the bailout while was both parties doing it. The Republicans were the one who were the main reason for rejecting the original and just as guilty of demanding pork in form of extortion.

I am in my forties and that is no longer young. My life experiences are both parties run up a debt. I have seen Republican Presidents and Republican Congresses. Between 2000 and 2006 they had control of all the branches. I never in my life have seen them do anything other then write blank checks for their causes while misdirecting the people of this country by yelling from the rooftops about government spending. The facts are though now quite historic as well, it is completely empty rhetoric.

Both parties spend the money without thinking of how the government is going to pay for it. To decide one is guiltier then the other only contributes to the problem and not the solution.

Vote out the incumbents to send a message. But instead we always follow the same tired path that the cliché about this holds so true. “I hate Congress bur like my Congressman.”

Dan Shores, Very interesting reading, I am not nearly as in tune with our political past as you seem to be so maybe you can answer this for ME, and thousands Like me.
We ALL know that social security is not enough to live on any more, PERIOD, but imagine what happens to your life style when our economic problems cause prices to SOAR over 35% in the last 2 years, and you get an increase of 2.3% last year and a proposed 2.5% in January 2009. Our income is up by less than 5% and in the same period everything else has increased AT LEAST 35%. After our 2.5% in Jan. 2009 we will effectively be making $300.00 a month LESS than we were in 2007. This can not continue to happen and we Senior Citizens still survive. I am NOT a greedy person at all, but when we have to pay the SAME increases as everyone else, with a paltry increase in our income, Where does that leave us? We already go NOWHERE, have given up cable TV, reduced our phone down to the extreme basics, and have learned to live on Chicken, Hamburger, Rice, and beans.
There is NOTHING fair about this when Congressmen, and others do not even count on Social Security, they don't pay into it, they don't draw it, They Don't need to,,, When they retire, they continue to receive their FULL pay checks, until their Death. My wife and I are in poverty, along with millions of other people who are on social security, yet our Government STILL allows utilities to get HUGE increases, twice a year,, WHY? They CAN'T just throw us away, but that's what is happening. I used to buy groceries for a family of 6 for one half of what it cost me for a family of TWO. A 4.8% increase in 2 years time, when EVERYTHING we need has increased OVER 35% is NOT ACCEPTABLE!
And we ALL knew that the price of Gasoline would DROP in time for the Elections. WE ARE Strapped in a BIG way, WHO is responsible for this, and What do YOU suggest we do. At this time it seems that ANYTHING we do is TO LITTLE, TO LATE!

Steve-O

Good job by all three of you. Maybe we have potential representatives in the making here. Oh wait, that would mean you would sit around doing nothing while the country panics into shambles. Nevermind. I think Mr. Shores makes some fabulous points, but I think xanzzz has hit a home run with one point. It is a product of both parties sucking at doing their jobs. We send our reps out for fun in the sun and b.s with all their bureaucratic buddies year after year, spending our money to put us in this position. We need to clean house and even when you do that you get the same junk to replace it. You become a senator or representative not to serve the people, but for economic opportunities that the average American will never even know. We produce less than the rest of the world with much better people. So what is the problem? We are a lazy, greedy country! Ask anyone that works any where about the work ethic today. It has dropped dramatically. We expect the government, or our union, or mommie or daddy to take care of everything. That's what makes Obama so appealing. The lazy worker loves hearing that government is going to step in and take care of health care, taxes , education, etc. But it won't happen. Promises are made election after election and never kept. How quickly we forget , but optimism sounds so promising. Obama wants you to think he will change all the evil that Bush has done. As both Mr. Shores and xanzzz stated, his party created as much as anyone. People need to wake up. He has never once voted for tax decreases for the middle class in his short stint in office. That is one of his major selling points of his platform! Why would he change know?

I was told all my life, and I'm sure you heard it to, that Social Security alone would NOT be enough to retire on. And you and many others prove this every time you write in like this. Who's responsible? I guess you are! "At this time it seems that ANYTHING we do is TO LITTLE, TO LATE!" Your statement is correct!

Some very good and valid points are presented in Mr. Shores letter.

Both parties, Republicans and Democrats in the legeislative, executive and judicial branches of our government have failed to uphold their oath to uphold the Constitution and have trampled the values on which our country was forged.

For the first time in my 53 years, I've decided to truly exercise my "independence" as a voter. I will not be voting for either the Republican or Democratic candidate. I will be voting for Chuck Baldwin, who is the presidential candidate of the Constitution Party.

I would have never thought that I would stray from the two major parties, but I am this year.

I'm fed up. Or to coin a phrase from the 1976 movie "Network" starring William Holden and Faye Dunaway:

"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"

Maybe if we were to coin a phrase from the 2000 movie "Waterboy" starring Adam Sandler and Fonzie:
"You can do it" we could get this ship righted.
We just need to have government start to work for and with the people, instead of just "with the people's money".

Mr Shores, after reading your letter I have come to a conclusion... you're really good at pointing the finger... you're so busy keeping track of all these negative things that have happened in your lifetime, you've probably missed out on many good things that happened. I challenge you to "accumulate facts" on good things that have happened throughout the years... you might just start enjoying life a little more.

Comment: You are right; Social Security is not enought to live on. BUT I also have a retirement that used to give COLA but for the last 3 years that has stopped so I have had to dig into my savings. I am sure you will have a good nest egg to retire on but that can all be lost quickly when the cost of living goes up and your income does not!!! I worked for 50+ years and am still having to work part time to make a living.

ninja- Mr. Shores is very good at pointing the finger, he retired from the insurance business therefore he was a professional finger pointer. For as long as I can remember everyone, including my grandparents, have been telling me to save, save, save so I can live comfortably at retirement, but yet, we still don't do it. Everyone knows the Soc. Sec. won't give us what we need/want but yet we still blame it. It's time to take the action into our own hands...no one will take care of you when you retire so take care of yourself! I took everyone's advice and started my retirement at 17 so I will be sitting pretty when the time comes. My father on the other hand waited until he was in his late 40's but he is trying to catch up b/c he knows that's what HE has to do, not the government. I know that Republicans and Democrats have said the same thing each and every election over my lifetime and none of them follow through, so we as individuals just need to do it ourselves.

Tigersfan,
Did you go to Memphis? You can't possibly have gone to Missouri with some of your logic. Being in the insurance business makes you a professional finger pointer? What the heck does that mean? Mr. Shores was my parent's agent and a very good fellow. As we can see, eliquent and very well spoken as well. I'm impressed that you and ninja are buddying up on the same level here.

ok gr8fan... yes, being in the insurance business does make you a professional finger pointer... i worked in that profession for a number of years, and i was taught who to point the finger at everyday. mr. shores may have been your parents agent, but he was selling them something, don't forget that. tigersfan is from missouri and always will be a tigersfan..i know that for fact... he's my blood brother.. he saved me from death back in 1998... i was shot by an escape felon, and my friend, tigersfan, ran me to the hospital... saved my life.. never forget it t-bone! anyways...
i see your point gr8fan... you probably see a side to mr. shores that the rest of us dont see... so you stand proud and hold your point.
i hope God blesses everyone on this post.

Neither party in my view works for the public interest, they work for agendas, special interests, and themselves. With all the highly educated people out there in today's world in politics and business, combined with the wonderful technology to make things more efficient, we should not ever have the intensity of the issues at present now. Things are where they are at because of politicians going unchecked by the public in general and being able to do literally what they want. This will continue as long as only a small percentage of the public really pays attention to the political landscape, groups and organizations push their agendas and causes without being challenged. We as the American public have a powerful voice in the electorial processes if we choose to use it, and unfortunately most of us don't. The international public pays more attention to our political infrastructure and behavior more than we do and that should never be the case. Just think how much upheaval would be caused if everyone just voted independent. I think the change would be good, because that is the path I am taking and I stay with my original position, every present politician in office now whatever position they hold and whatever state they represent or municipality needs to be fired!!!!!They all blew it and should be held accountable.

Thanks ninja- my brother from another mother!

gr8fan- you question my fanhood?? I bleed black and gold, and yes even today, because we can not be great all of the time. It's funny what you said about Dan Shores, because he was my families agent with Farmer's for as long as I can remember along with mine as well. I was not attacking him specifically rather the insurance business itself. I have never known an Insurance Co, NOT to try and point the blame somewhere else to avoid paying. That is what they are supposed to do!!

Tiger,
I wasn't questioning your fanhood. I can see your tears on your post beside mine after saturday's debacle. The horns better watch out for that ticked off tiger. Just didn't want your logic associated with that of MU grads. Most are conservatives! Back on the insurance thing, I have had a couple of claims with Farmers and was always treated professionally and fair. Sometimes, you get what you give!