In a poll several years ago Costa Rican People voted themselves the happiest in the world. I dare say, that if a similar poll were taken today, the "U.S. people" would vote themselves the most unhappy and dissatisfied people on earth. After following the debaucle that transpired in Washington the last few weeks on satellite TV I can understand, why. Politicians are no longer statesmen, merely ideologues. Long gone are the men like Dirkson, Goldwater, Oneill and Kennedy, who would argue in the Halls of Congress to make their point, but still genuinely respect and like each other after hours, Now it is like war. demonize the opposition and appeal to the basest emotions which we humans harbor, Fear.
The concensis of most of the internatiomal economists that I have watched recently have stated that a midterm fiscal problem with the deicit was turned into a crisis These guys had no agenda they were not running for election, they weren't even American, just money men. Why not curtail" tax breaks" to companies that outsource jobs. Who said that 'Pentagon" spending should be sacrosanct? The defense contractors, perhaps. We spend more on defense than the next 7 contries combined. We might be fighting the last war instead of the one that's raging, economic. The country that harnessed the Atom and connected the world to the internet could use the same brainpower to come up with energy solutions, which is prbably our greatest enemy. These are just my opinions so if you want an argument, take it somewhere else. I'm happy to be happy.
William Patterson
Costa Rica
