Consumers needed to drive economy

I am encouraged by the fact that we have an opportunity to move past this difficult time in our nation's history. The key to building a strong economy begins with the American consumer.

Consumer spending in this country accounts for about 70 percent of our GDP. A lot of families and working people struggle with medical bills, student loan payments and health insurance costs.

If our tax dollars pay for our health care and education costs, American consumers will have more disposable income. We shouldn't attempt to fix the credit markets by giving blank checks to CEOs. We should empower American consumers so they can spend the money they earn.

We can't have a serious discussion in this country about providing free education and health care to everyone because we've been scared into thinking that such an idea is socialism.

But the reality is doing this wouldn't turn America into the Soviet Union. Our red, white, and blue values would not disappear just because we embraced a more efficient way to grow our economy.

Our police, fire, and military forces are all publicly funded and operated. I wonder if any sane person would accuse our troops of being a socialist menace. Ideological extremists opposed to helping American consumers might call me a socialist as some accused Barack Obama of being one during the campaign.

But I don't want the government to own the means of production. I want people buying plasma TVs, the newest cell phones, hybrid cars or whatever else with their disposable income.

This is America. Let your dollars decide. In this new era of globalization, America is going to have to implement a new strategy if it wants to compete with the emerging economies of India and China.

Funding health care and education is like building a bridge, dam or railroad. We need to construct strong consumers, which are the engines that drive our economy.

Sava Matevich

Naperville