THE OLD SHELL GAME

Another fascinating event was the shell game. I watched many patrons put down 50 cents for a chance to guess which of the 3 shells the pea was under and make two bucks. I was sure I knew where it was every time but I was seldom right. Few patrons won. The barker seemed to be rolling in dough and I finally realized he couldn't be trusted -- it had to be a scam.

When I listen to our elected officials in Washington, I'm reminded of this old shell game. Take the balancing the budget issue for instance. Think of the budget issue as the "pea." Take three shells and label them "Republicans," "Democrats" and "President Clinton." Shells are a neat concept as they hide the "significance of the issue" -- like the pea, something desired by our elected one's.

I think you see their game clearly. However, in the Washington shell game, there are three barkers, one for each shell, attempting to convince you that the "issue" is under the other's shell. They play this shell game in an attempt to keep us confused to lower our investment in the issue -- and their individual responsibility. Have you examined their voting pattern? We don't have congressmen voting for what is right. They vote a party line -- whether it's in the best interest of the citizens or not. That should tell you a lot.

This federal debt issue has gone beyond a game. Some analysts say that in just a few years the interest on the federal debt will be so large that it will take all of the federal revenues just to pay the interest. The government will not be able to afford other programs. Then, with our huge debt, the loss of "the good faith of the United States" will eliminate the dollar as the monetary standard and we will become a third world country. Our elected Washington officials don't have the stature, the stomach, or the interest to handle this severe problem and we are in trouble! This "balancing the budget act" is just another shell game.