I have not been asked to contribute to the effort of waging two wars except to pay my federal taxes. I don’t feel put upon to do so. I would also willingly pay a surtax to contribute to the cost of the wars and reduce the deficit. These wars began and the decisions that contributed to the current financial meltdown occurred when I was responsible for voting people into national office. I feel personally culpable for what has happened in America. For all the talk of not passing along costs to our children and grandchildren, without stepping forward to raise the revenue ourselves, that is exactly what we are doing. The media is filled with stories reporting our resistance to tax increases. Who among us would come forward individually to face the parents of sons and daughters in the military and object to paying a few percentage points more in federal taxes in the face of their contribution? Our elected representatives underestimate our willingness to face responsibility. Where is the shame that we are treated with such disrespect? Where is the outrage that we are seen to be less able to face adversity than the generation before us who survived the Great Depression, won World War II and gave us a nation that offered opportunity unsurpassed in our history? Leadership requires the courage to demand that we bring out the best in ourselves. All it takes is to be asked. We won’t solve our current situation by attending Tea Parties.

Tom Foley
Cumberland Foreside