Financial meltdown demands house cleaning

The events surrounding the economy of the United States are, and should be, of paramount concern to all of us. How the country arrived at this stage is important — however, not as important as how the country emerges from it.

The spectacle that has unfolded in the last few days regarding Congress should sicken all of us.

What is necessary today is reasonable and responsible leadership at all levels of government.

Americans go to the polls regularly to elect men and women to be our representatives in the nation’s capital.

We employ, via the ballot, our elected leaders to make responsible decisions in the best interests of the citizenry, and they have violated the principle of responsible leadership through countless irresponsible decisions on many issues, too numerous to list here.

If any of us made such irresponsible, selfish and immature decisions at work, there is a strong probability we would be terminated.

The elected leaders are not leading, except to their own benefits and egos, and they are not being responsible to anyone but themselves.

This is a time to solve the great challenges we as a nation face, regardless of party affiliation or political leaning.

The president’s approval rating in the 20s, the approval rating for Congress is in the teens; and, with almost 80 percent of Ameri-cans believing the country is on the wrong track, something must be done.

It is time to fire those not being responsible at the ballot box.

If we do not come together as a nation in these trying times to solve the great issues threatening our country, the consequences could be dire. To use an old saying, it’s time to throw the bums out.

Ronald Reagan once challenged the nation, “If not you, then who; if not now, then when?” The “who” is all of us, the “when” is now.

As for me, on Election Day, I will not vote for any incumbent on the ballot — I don’t think you should either.

Timothy P. O’Brien
Charlottesville