Dear Washington, It’s time to reach deep

Dear President Obama and Members of Congress:

Like you, I am outraged. Our country has piled up too much debt. I know many who have sat where you do had the political luxury to blame somebody else for the problems the country faced and leave much of the mess to be solved by the next group to take power. Sorry, but you do not serve in such times. You must do the job you were elected to do.

Former Presidents and Congresses took us to war, did their best to avert economic calamity and tried to set the United States on a course to broad prosperity. And, yes, hindsight shows some of their decisions were wise and a few were something less. Regardless of their intentions, good or otherwise, the paved American road has led us up a mountain of debt. It is up to you whether we begin the coast down, or we drive off a cliff. If you are having difficulty making the decision, here’s a hint, the cliff option will end badly. You do not really have a choice. Raise the debt ceiling – the sooner the better.

Unfortunately, too many of you are singularly focused in placing fault at the feet of your opponents in a self-serving attempt to sway voter support for your party. Most of us are tired of this foolishness. Your countrymen need for you to act as patriots. Set aside your personal ambition, stand shoulder to shoulder with your fellow Americans and get to work building the nation the next generation deserves.

The U.S. faces challenges and threats we could not imagine a decade ago. If you continue to abdicate your duty by standing at microphones telling us “it is time to eat our peas” or likening the other side to Jell-o, our national crisis will mount and these threats will become all the more ominous. Every day you do so, the American future seems to dim a bit.

It is time to settle this matter. The first step is raising the debt ceiling. This will stop the needless hysteria your inaction has caused. Next, get to work developing a plan to reduce the debt. The United States government is huge. There are countless ways to make it smaller.

Don’t be fooled. The solution has little to do with which party takes the White House and Congress in the election of 2012. We do not need a Democrat or Republican majority to move us forward. We need Americans who are willing to put partisanship aside and commit to working together. I am asking for each of you to reach deep inside and find what is required for you to become one of those Americans. It’s kind of important. The future of our nation depends on it.

Sincerely yours,
Graham Gillette

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Graham Gillette can be reached at grahamgillette@gmail.com

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