Recently it has struck me while reading through the newspapers and news web sites that we as a country are getting too dependent on the federal government. Check out your own local news source and I'll bet within just a day or two you will see at least one article about "funds available". A few local samples from the past 2 weeks include: "Nearly $2M available for organic farming in Neb." - http://www.kneb.com/news/agricultural/2f31a578-5d44-4154-b9e1-d90c88f817ef; "Scottsbluff Sheriff's Office to receive funds"; "Nebraska to Rely more on Stimulus funds" http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/28/ap6348553.html.  I know all of these local entities are all thrilled to get the "free" money. The problem is - Our Country is BROKE!! All well and good to fund these things if we are flush with tax revenues but the very simple fact is that all the above and much more are being funded by borrowing money. Someday, it will have to be repaid plus interest. We are borrowing against our future generations.

Too often when I attend meetings from a wide assortment of groups, the topic of fund raising for some worthy project comes up. Almost immediately, somebody will suggest looking to see if some federal program will help. Or they start looking for federally funded block grants. Or they turn to a politician to ask for funding. Cities looking to improve roads, build parks, upgrade water systems or whatever are all turning to the federal government to kick in some money to help them out. School districts, county and State projects as well. The politicians in Washington are all too eager to create a new department or tuck in an earmark to help out. Nobody even tries to fund these projects locally. They claim that no local resources exist or that rates will be too high for local citizens. Where exactly do they think the feds get money?? The answer is in new or higher federal taxes. More income tax, more corporate taxes (passed on in product charges), higher surcharges, fees, tarrifs. Then we all pay. This is a cycle that needs to end. We need to start relying on our own hard work and ingenuity to solve local problems rather than asking Uncle Sam to fix everything. This is an attitude that must start locally. We need to approach our elected officials and tell them to reject the idea that Washington should help pay for our local problems. If the community can't afford it - maybe we really don't need it.  If such a movement grows nationwide - the federal budget can start to fall and we as a country can get spending in check. Think about it.