New elected officials face big problems

The 2010 election is history. Those who promised to “fight” for us now have the chance to show their stuff. How can we stimulate them to action? How do we prod them to address Social Security underfunding, Medicare deficits, runaway government pensions let alone the immigration issue, an intransigent Israeli ally, an ailing economy and a ballooning long term debt?

I don't know and frankly I don't know if the leadership exists in government to rise above the partisan politics that has been the norm for this century. I do know some of the actions that would begin to restore my faith in government.

For example, I'd like to see us withdraw from Afghanistan. We had a mission at the outset. Now we seem lost in nation building in a medieval land that has warfare as a staple of their life.

I'd like to see government at every level slash their pensions, go to contributory IRA's and while they are at it circulate for our vote an amendment that would not allow them to exempt themselves from the legislation they pass.

Immigrationwise. there are many examples of good plans instituted by other Western countries to deal with people seeking citizenship. Once we have a means to deal with our illegal immigrants we need to enforce the laws already on the books to preclude the recurrence of the problem.

Israel, why are they such a valued ally? Are they still the recipient of the most U.S. aid per capita? What is it that draws us to them or is it the Israeli Lobby that pushes us there? We need to objectively re-evaluate our relationship with this country.

The challenges facing our newly elected “fighters” are real and seemingly endless. The question is, “Are they in our corner?”

Dennis Gasick

Libertyville