Balancing the Budget will end the America we know!

I recently interviewed a South African woman visiting America. Okay, she was a "walk-in" client at my hair salon, but the conversation that we had was so enlightening.

She described South Africa as not having Medicaid and Unemployment compensation. Government assistance was not available. Every man was for himself. Surviving day by day if you do not have a job.

What does that mean for those who "have something?" The freedom to walk down the street without getting mugged or killed gets taken away. You could lose your life over a cell phone, or the "sneakers" on your feet.

For some Americans living in the "hood" or "projects," they are constantly watching and anticipating being attacked. It is a way of life.

Luckily, there are areas of the city or state that you feel safer. You feel free. You can shop until 10 pm at night. You can walk your dog in the park. You can wear nice clothes without feeling like you become a target in the street.

Now, what if one day you woke up and there was no more government assistance to the poor, the sick, the helpless? Why? Because Congress needed to balance the budget.

You might wake up to rioting in the streets. Uncontrollable chaos.

London has had riots. I believe Australia has had rioting. If the government would have cheated Obama in the 2008 election like they cheated Al Gore in the 2004 election, I think that the USA would have had rioting in the streets.

If you have to choose between increasing the federal debt to continue assisting the "less fortunate" versus living in fear 24 hours of the day, which would you choose?

I think the politicians all know that taking away public assistance will be detrimental to America; so they are more focused on creating jobs.

The elders feel that the lower class must find a way to be become more self-sufficient. They must figure out how to hold their own weight.

In the meantime, companies must enforce fair employment practices and people must learn to live with less.

It does not make sense to me that $200 flat screen televisions were selling like "hotcakes" during Christmas and the neighbor next door was in the soup line trying to feed their family.

Everyone who bought a $200 flat screen television during Christmas that just wanted an upgrade to their existing working television really should be willing to give some needy family in the soup kitchen an equal donation.

Everyone is going to have to help turn this economy around. The wealthy 5% of the world can not provide for all 95% of the middle to lower class.

In closing, the South African woman described her "middle class subdivision" as a community surrounded by a 3 meter gate with barbed wire and security guards around the entrance to the community. She felt safe only within her community. She could not trust the police because there had been some corruption in its leadership. You have to travel in groups of six or more people with strong men in order to intimidate potential troublemakers. Stores close before dark to allow employees to get home safely. Visiting America was a vacation - she really helped me understand that the America that we know now with the trillion dollar national debt is the "home of the free." Enjoy it while you can.