Citizens in the Center

Citizens in the Center

GAS IS AN EXTRAVAGANCE

As I empty my billfold, pulling out $15.00 for six gallons of gas, I am beginning to wonder. Are we in a depression and don’t know it?

I would expect to fill up the tank of the small compact Chevy for that amount of money.

For lunch, I stop at my favorite drug store for the noon special and pay $6.95 for a meal I recently got for $3.50.

The lawn guy comes and charges $25, instead of the $20 that used to be. “It’s the gas,” he says.

A six weeks’ haircut at the salon now costs $20.00 while not so long ago it was $12.00.

Then there are the groceries – every item up 20 to 40 pct. It’s the gas, you know.

Utilities are conducting hearings to raise the monthly rate by $5.75 to residential users and sending out lengthy advisories on how to save on energy: “ Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Don’t leave ceiling fans run if you are not in the room with the fan…the fans cool you, not the room. Wash clothes in cold water. Turn off computers and TVs when not being utilized. Turn the water heater temperature down, the AC up to 80 on hot days, the AC down to 60 on cold days.” These are depression years’ survival methods that haunted my father all the days of his life. Turn the lights off. Don’t leave the water running. Finish what’s on your plate. Walk to school. Bring back the change. Close the rooms off when we are not in them. Don’t stand there in front of the refrigerator with the door open.

It all painfully reminds me of the Great Depression for my Dad when he coasted down hills to save on gas, bought it in a gallon can, and never ran the car unless absolutely necessary. Then there was no money and no jobs and now there are jobs that don’t pay enough to drive to work.

The insurance companies are posting notices of large increases, or canceling, or going bottom up claiming multi million dollar deficits. Thirty million people are without health insurance; they can’t afford it.

On the other hand, furniture companies are advertising their goods for no money down and no interest or payment until 2008. How does this work? Also you can buy a new car, no money down, no interest and a rebate. What’s going on?

I get daily phenomenal “you are approved” offers from credit card companies – no fees, no interest for a year, payments delayed and they will carry you at no charge. I get an equal deluge of appeals from charities I have never heard of, begging any amount of contribution.

It seems the whole country and the people in it are going deeper and deeper in debt and no cash flow. At the top is the big skim – the oil companies profiting as never before – and uncontrolled. Due to our extravagance.
----
The only solution to the gas problems offered up by the Legislative and Executive branches of our government has been to tell the people to conserve. Is the president staying in his office, thinking, instead of flying about in Air Force One? Are the congressmen car pooling? Is there an explanation for years of non-planning, fiscal waste rendering the government powerless and clueless to deal with this "sudden" problem? Is it like global warming - heads in the sand; it doesn't exist.

With a Citizens in the Center administration in charge, the economic welfare of the people of this country would never be an extravagance.

Citizens in the Center: March 2006

Citizens in the Center: March 2006

THE REAL RESOURCE OF AMERICA

The greatest resource of this country are its people, keeping them employed, educated, well and secure in their careers so they build up the experience and skills to best serve the common good.

The Citizens in the Center movement must ask that every piece of legislation be based on "of the people, for the people, and by the people." ... and that every candidate running for office at local, state and national levels pledge to commit their service to bettering the potential of our country, not one minority, not one special interest, not that individual's own agenda. Those whom the CinC support are applying for jobs that are paid for by the public funds. In endorsing a candidate, the CinC party must consider first off the candidate's ability to do the job, the mentality and sanity of the candidate, the sincerity of motive, and an understanding of job he/she undertakes. These issues can be reviewed in a job application, as for any job, to be signed as truthful by the applicant. In so issuing such a public statement, the candidate will be required to serve "at will" and face dismisssal if failure or dishonest performance occurs during a term of service.

We must eliminate self serving leaders as we choose the next politicians in charge of America's resources.

Let us call upon our leaders for a new pledge of allegiance to the people of this country that they may be endowed with a fair and prudent distribution of wealth and the opportunities and freedoms promised by our founders.
I pledge allegiance to the citizens of the United States of America
and to their welfare for which the Republic stands, one Nation, under
God, with liberty and justice for all.