Turning down the thermostat, walking or biking instead of driving, avoiding extras - those aren't sacrifices. Sacrifice implies choice, and when you're broke or sliding toward insolvency, choices are limited.

Last week, during their faux town hall debate, Barack Obama and John McCain were asked what sacrifice they would ask Americans to make to help the nation get out of debt. Their answers were uninspiring.

McCain talked about freezing all but essential spending on vital things such as defense, which doesn't quite have the ring of "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." It's also a simplistic and unfair approach to dealing with a complex problem.

Obama did a little better. He has seen how hungry his legion of young supporters are to serve, and he called for people to enlist in the military, join the Peace Corps and domestic service groups and energy conservation efforts.

How should McCain and Obama have answered? As youths, both men answered the call, McCain in Vietnam and Obama in Chicago's poor neighborhoods. But neither used their experiences to respond to the question. Neither spoke of the rewards that come with serving others; that the giver gets the most from the gift.

The candidates should have had a stirring answer on the tips of their tongues. They could have responded with the old Yankee injunction to "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." They could have called upon the public to emulate their parents and grandparents and eliminate every area of waste they find - wasted heat, wasted gasoline, wasted food and yes, wasted time that could be used to help someone in need.

Times are hard and getting harder. Plenty of people were in need of help before the economic downturn. Now many more need help. Answer a call from charitable organizations and volunteer.

The elderly will have to do without things they can no longer do themselves and can no longer afford to pay to have done. Already, organizations like Meals on Wheels have had to cut back on visits. Today's families are often scattered across many states and even nations. Neighbors will have to step in to help the elderly make meals, shovel walks and tighten homes against winter. Food pantries will need donations, particularly of money they can use to purchase far more than individuals can.

Charity alone won't be enough to maintain those in need. The public sector will have to do more, and the money must come from the only place that's able to print it, the federal government. States are sinking rapidly into the red and struggling to meet basic responsibilities. Local welfare offices are obligated to aid any resident in need, but more of the burden should not be placed on them. Do that and property taxes will increase, forcing more people to do without food or heat and put their homes at risk.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has upbraided rival Joe Biden for saying that paying taxes is patriotic. Not to her and her neighbors, it isn't, she said. Does that mean she believes that avoiding taxes is patriotic? Who does she think should pay what Oliver Wendell Holmes called "the price of civilization?"

The next generation has already been saddled with a debt that's large enough to affect its lifestyle and future. Now, that debt is growing. Income taxes should be increased to whittle down that debt while helping those in need.





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Comments
Obama workers...
By Bruce Trivellini on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 10:09
20081013/OPINION/810130310
810130310
article_title:
Obama, McCain should have asked more of us
article_pubdate:
20081013
I had a Obama campaign worker stop by my house yesterday. I asked him a couple of questions about his candidate. He couldn't answer them. I asked him why don't you know these things? He sadi I am just a local and I don't know anything about what Obama has done when in the Illinois Senate. I asked him why not? Why haven't you vetted your candidate so you could answer these very basic questions? He started to run away. I asked him back to talk about the issues he knew nothing about. He ran away even faster!

Obama's supporters really don't know anything about him!

So a little hint to the Obama folks, if you come to my home be prepared to answer some very basic questions! Just do some research and you might be suprised what you candidate is all about.

To the guy who ran away, come on back when you find the answers to my questions. I am sure once you find those answers you will become a Obama non supporter!

Insulting
By Anonymous on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 09:41
20081013/OPINION/810130310
810130310
article_title:
Obama, McCain should have asked more of us
article_pubdate:
20081013
"...both men answered the call, McCain in Vietnam and Obama in Chicago's poor neighborhoods."

To equate these two contributions is an insult to every veteran and active serviceman and woman.

Nice job, Monitor.

our taxes
By Anonymous on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 08:15
20081013/OPINION/810130310
810130310
article_title:
Obama, McCain should have asked more of us
article_pubdate:
20081013
ought to go for our national defense and to the folks fighting. They should not go to provide livings for those to lazy to work for a living.

I'm tired to all this forced benevolence. Leave that up to the private charities.

Yeah, Right!
By Anonymous on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 07:38
20081013/OPINION/810130310
810130310
article_title:
Obama, McCain should have asked more of us
article_pubdate:
20081013
Show me every socialist's tax returns, oh I mean liberal's, and there isn't ONE that has paid extra tax! You whiners are all insufferable!

Sarah Palin
By M-J-E on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 07:32
20081013/OPINION/810130310
810130310
article_title:
Obama, McCain should have asked more of us
article_pubdate:
20081013
Who does she think should pay for the body armor that her young son is wearing in Iraq? The man in the moon?





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