Let us know how we can help

People are terrified and need our leaders to lead. We desperately need a call to action. As Warren Buffett said, we need everyone to come together to wage a war to restore our economy.

We need our leaders to believe in us; to believe that we can make a difference and that we are willing to make sacrifices to help our country. A call to action would demonstrate their confidence in us and in the overwhelming power we have when we work together toward a common goal.

The economy is in a negative feedback loop where bad news causes people and businesses to pull back, which in turn hurts the economy more. I think we can stop it if people felt they could impact the economy and act in a way to help control events. I'm not suggesting a call to go to the malls as President Bush proclaimed after Sept. 11. I'm suggesting specific actions.

I propose another TARP; but this one stands for the Tangible American Rescue Plan. I know it's corny. But the focus is on what people can do, not what the government will do for banks.

Here are a few ideas:

Don't sell your stocks unless you absolutely need the money. Panic selling only feeds the negative feedback loop.

Buy U.S. Savings Bonds. It's a way to earn decent interest and support our government.

Support your local businesses. Not only does that help your neighbors but it keeps tax revenue within your community.

Help those who are less fortunate than you. It's been proven that when people act in a generous way they experience positive feelings and a better sense of well being.

I'm sure there are a lot of other ideas. But in the end, our leaders need to call us to act and need to show the way how. Otherwise, they aren't leading, they just following along like the rest of us.

Kevin O'Neill

North Aurora