America is WEALTHY! There's no denying it. The economy is only in a slump for some of us.

Remember the billions of dollars that were just spent on the election? Wow! How many jobs could have been created? And from the November 24 Seattle Times Business Section: "The nation's workers may be struggling, but U.S. companies just had their best quarter ever....U.S. businesses earned profits at an annual rate of $1.659 trillion the third quarter, according to a Commerce Department report released Tuesday. That is the highest figure recorded since the government began keeping track more than 60 years ago, at least in nominal or noninflation-adjusted terms."

Big banks, too, are once again in the black, but are holding onto their money rather than loaning it out to the small businesses and lower-income homeowners who really need it!

In spite of all these billions floating around, the unemployment rate has remained high, the deficit is astronomical and lawmakers talk about cutting such as things as Social Security and Medicare.

Let's take a closer look.

The Deficit Reform Commission (DRC) proposes drastic cuts to Social Security, which is actually in the black. It has its own revenue source and currently has NO shortfall.

Military spending on the other hand is "discretionary," meaning that it is funded by IRS taxes. No one talks about the trillion dollar wars and uncapped military spending, which is the bulk of our discretionary spending. One million dollars for ONE soldier in Afghanistan for ONE year should make our citizens and our representatives take a long hard look at where our money, our jobs, our economy and our values are going. How's this war economy working for you?

As our local doctors and health care facilities ask their Medicare patients to apply for Medicare Advantage plans and refuse to take new Medicare patients and the DRC talks about undoing Social Security, we need to refocus on where the problems really lie. Taking the step of allowing the Bush-era tax cuts to expire could eliminate the deficit in a few years, especially if we stopped the out-of-control military spending.

It is time for the middle and lower class to have their share of the American dream and be able to have sustainable and equitable lives. Let your voices be heard and look into the facts of who has the money in this country and where YOUR money goes.

Look into the Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) plan and consider other options besides cutting aid from those who need it and giving it to the military industrial complex. Then let your representatives know how YOU feel.

Kathy Hazen
Burien