I posted this a few days ago, but I think it was tagged under Sarah Palin. I got reemed a bit, which is fine with me, so I figured I'd post it again here for all to see.

So I'd like to touch on the issue of the economy. Practically everyday we can find some kind of survey on either CNN, MSN, Yahoo, etc asking us about our financial health. Questions like, "Are you better off financially than you were seven years ago," and "Do you worry about the prices of gas and groceries......."
These questions and the talk about the economy sicken me. For one, BUSH IS NOT TO BLAME for the economy in crisis. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE. Maybe not all, but many. The ones who took out ARM mortgages they couldn't afford. The ones who piled up credit card debt- again, that THEY couldn't afford, those who took bad car loans, personal loans, student loans, etc.

NEVER in the history of the world has a country been so dependent on credit. So many are so worried about keeping up with the Joneses, that they got in over their heads. They bought lavish homes and luxuries they can't afford, they own several cars, yet have no savings. Or, they simply have no budget, and use credit cards for everyday spending. But then of course, they don't pay the full balance off every month.

I could go on and on. Unfortunately for Bush, he was in the hot seat when everything crashed. Banks are no longer lending, and people can no longer afford to pay things back. Banks are being sold, and the dollar is losing it's worth. Can anyone else see that this economy crisis is because of EVERYDAY spending, not a war??
With the amount of foreclosures, there is no doubt that banks will have to lower their lending standards sooner than later, or they'll go under. Unfortuantely, this will bring a whole new wave of "bad mortgages" around.
Prices of homes are falling due to the amount of foreclosures- (which in turn bring the values of homes in the area down because they get sold at fraction costs). I think it is a pretty easy picture to understand.
We Americans put ourselves into this mess. We made our beds. So now we should deal with it. The government owes us nothing!
All this talk about tax cuts! Who cares! I pay my taxes everyday, and hopefully when I file I'll get a refund. I shouldn't complain, and I don't. I pay about 25% taxes on my salary, yet my father pays 5 times the amount I do in taxes, just because he makes more. Where's the equality there?
McCain understands this. Obama would rather give tax cuts to the "poor" and up the taxes to the rich. I don't know about other parts of the country, but up here $42K a year is not rich, yet those making more than that would have tax INCREASES under Obama! And for those of you in denial of this, TELL ME WHERE OBAMA WILL FIND THE BUDGET FOR HIS MIRACLE CUTS??
Lastly, I'd like to add a couple opinions about groceries and gasoline, since they seem to always be a focus when rising costs are mentioned.
Gasoline: Has actually dropped about 40 cents around here in the last few weeks. Regardless of this latest decline, I figure that since last year at this time, cost to fill up my Toyota Camry has gone up about $15 a fill up. Now I drive high mileage, yet this still ONLY amounts to $60 a month. Those who don't budget for an extra $60 a month from last year to this year, were in serious crisis BEFORE gas prices went up. You'd be in denial to think otherwise.
On average though, for someone who drives 1000 miles a month, depending on your vehicle, I'd say no more than $30-$50 increase for gas. (Pretty much, one night of eating out a month!!)
Groceries: I don't know about many of you, but I clip coupons. It's not below me. I find some great deals, and I read some strategies on MSN about combining coupons with sale items. Our grocery budget has not gone up one dime all year. And we aren't getting one less calorie than we did last year either.
If something's not on sale, don't buy it. If it's a "necessity," wait until a sale and stock up! Also, buy store brand! They are just as good!! And they are a fraction of the cost!
If you're complaining about grocery costs, then work out a budget, and spend an extra 15 mins a week making a list. Have the store sale ad next to you, and use it to form your lists! You can likely find something on sale in EVERY department!
And please, if things are that tight, don't be bringing a $2 coffee into the workplace everyday, and continue spending upwards of $5-$10 a day on lunch! That's insulting to those who aren't and are still struggling.

Americans need to learn to take responsibility for their actions. Plain and Simple.
McCain and Palin 2008!!