To a certain degree, I can understand the jubilation over the Corps of Engineers decision to allow recreational traffic four days a week. As I stated in a previous column, traffic on the river does not warrant a full time operation. However, I did expect a compromise to the original announcement of closing it completely. The premise of my column remains my opinion that it cannot be justified as to the need and most efficient way of spending taxpayer money. While it is welcomed news by some, it is in my opinion, a short-term gain for more long-term pain. As the mechanic says, “you can pay me now, or pay me later.”

It is simply postponing the inevitable provided river traffic does not increase or miraculously the nation turns the corner on these horrendous deficits and begins to deal with the national debt. I detest being the bearer of bad news, but unless the nation gets it fiscal house in order, there will be draconian cuts to everything and everybody. This is something our government should be telling everyone instead of rambling on until the collapse occurs. The collapse is not a matter of if, but when, unless drastic measures are enacted to stem the borrowing and printing of money. The longer it is postponed, the more painful it will become, and it is always the poor and middle class who suffer the most. If the Democrats were looking out for the middle class, they would be doing something about the deficits and debt.

Politicians are being dishonest by not telling people the perils of continuing down the road of borrowing and printing phony money. However, politicians are only interested in keeping their jobs for which they need the people’s money and support.

We find ourselves in a sad situation. Does anyone recall Brazil’s debt crisis in the 1980s spilling over to the 1990s where their inflation rate hit 100 percent and reached levels of 5,000 percent by 1993? Have you been listening to the news from Greece and Spain lately? Oh, woe unto us if we think it can‘t happen here.

We have reared up a generation or two that apparently believe nothing has to be paid for, everything is free. It is going to be quite a let down and rude awakening for this group when forced corrections are made.

However, who am I to sound the trumpet, open up the locks and let the party begin. We are going to party like it’s 2099, and ride the debt bomb down like Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove.