The American People Must Demand that Congressional Members Work Together

Our Survival as a Nation Depends on It

by Peter Stern

Obama stated his determination to focus on and fix what is referred to as "Entitlement" programs, which include Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. He is not wrong in wanting to do so. These programs need to be revamped. More tax dollars are needed to continue the programs or they will be in jeopardy very soon. However, our leaders must be very careful in what they choose to do and how to do it.

One of the issues is that too many Republicans just want to stop the programs entirely or are determined to privatize them. On the other side, too many Democrats don't even want to make ANY changes to the programs and are rigid about them.

See: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/15/obama-talks-up-entitlement-changes-as-dems-resist/

The social programs need more tax dollars. The programs need to eliminate waste and excessive costs. The programs need to cut abuse and fraud by recipients.

The social programs in question need to be revamped, but the changes need to be intelligent and significant. Democrats and Republicans need to work together and to meet in the middle of their fixed interests. As in any relationship there is a need to compromise. The real problem is that neither party wants to or feels the need to do this. The longer they take to roll up their sleeves and work together to fix our urgent issue, the more our nation slips into the much we have created for ourselves.