By Jerry Riley

Yes. Maybe it is time we tell our elected employees that it is time to look out for our country and stop flying all over the world handing out our tax money to countries that don’t even like us. While we have homeless in this country, we run over to countries, trying to raise their standards while ours is falling faster and faster.
Much of the former “third world countries” are now laughing at our once great country. We are ruining our country by trying to save countries that really don’t want to be saved. Standard of living is generally measured by standards such as real income per person and poverty rate, so, they are getting closer - though ours is sliding.
Many Americans say we need to protect Americans who travel to other countries.  As Spock said on Star Trek, “Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” When people travel outside the U.S., shouldn’t they expect to live by the laws of the country where they are? If not, how can our country enforce our laws on foreign visitors?
Our Constitution says nothing about being the world’s police. Why do we try to impose our standards on a population that doesn’t care - and wouldn’t even think about changing, without our tax money.
With the recent debt ceiling debate, we have demonstrated to the world that we, the people, continue to elect people who are looking after their jobs, Yes, what a revoltin’ development this is! Pushing the tough decisions onto future legislators and the debt to your grandchildren (Well, being single, I thought it best not to have any). Isn’t it time we elect people who care for US?

Jerry Riley is an occasional commentator for the News Bulletin. He is a retired telecommunications supervisor.                     © 2012 All Rights Reserved