“Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” —JFK

The debate our nation is experiencing right now in the media, in Congress, and around the dinner table is over what needs to be done about raising the federal debt limit. Our federal government has already borrowed the full amount of its $14.29 Trillion limit. We have hit the top of our debt ceiling.

How much debt has been put on you and your family? Divided by 300 million Americans, 14.29 trillion dollars comes out to $49,661.00 per person, or $155,935.00 per family. That isn’t future debt: that is our current debt.

The present debate is on whether to further increase the credit limit that you, the American people, will have to eventually pay off.

President Obama claims he inherited this mess from past presidents but PolitiFact.Com rates as “Mostly True” the Republicans’ oft-repeated claim that President Obama will have added as much debt as all the prior 43 presidents combined.

But fault at this point really doesn’t matter all that much, what matters is what can be done to correct what everyone agrees is a truly dire and immediate crisis.

If we could somehow magically remove politics from the debate, the debt could be steadily, fairly and consistently reduced by simply passing legislation mandating an 8% spending cut per year in each and every Department until the debt is paid off. The Department itself would be left to make the decisions of where and how to make the 8% cut for their Department. If new spending needs to be made, an equivalent cut would have to be made elsewhere in their own budget.

That simple theoretical formula, however, will never get passed, and let’s face it: the only political control we have is the incremental control we can exert at the ballot box on each election day and it takes a total of eight years to go through the nation’s full state, local, and federal election cycle.

What we do have, though, is control over our own personal, family and work decision making. What we can do and what we need to do is to start thinking and acting like Americans.

Restate for yourself the famous line from President Kennedy’s inaugural address; “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Don’t ask what is going to be done for you by the Republicans or the Democrats or the government. Ask what you are going to do for yourself, your family and your nation.
Don’t demand more in services from political hacks or governmental agencies. Offer to give more in service to your family, your community and your country.

Quit whining and start doing. Stop waiting for others to act and begin taking the actions you know will be of a positive help to those you care about.

President Kennedy closed his inaugural address with an admonishment that each and every one of us should adopt as a personal commitment:

“Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”

Mike Sharman, a resident of Foothills of Faith Farm in Madison County, Virginia, has served as an attorney and guardian for children for more than two decades. You may contact him at [email protected]