Editorial: S&P Downgrade - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: S&P Downgrade

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  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

Drastic times call for drastic measures and last week Standard & Poor's took the unprecedented step in lowering the rating on U.S. Government debt from AAA to AA+ - a first in our nation's history.

They issued many comments in their announcement but one put an explanation point on their decision and I quote "The downgrade reflects our view that the effectiveness, stability and predictability of American policymaking and political institutions have weakened at a time of ongoing fiscal and economic challenges to a degree more than we envisioned …"

Bottom line – our policy makers in Washington did not come up with a sound plan in timely fashion to once and for all attack our growing deficit and out of control spending.  The S&P called them on it, Wall-Street called them on it and we Americans are calling them on it.  Mom once told me the easiest and least painful way to remove a band-aid is quickly and all at once.  This step by step debt reduction plan by committee is prolonging the inevitable. 

We today urge the Alabama Congressional delegation to make the tough but correct decisions regarding our economy.   Stop spending money we don't have, end wasteful programs, and put a sound fiscal policy in place.  You do that and we can turn this negative into a positive. 

We appreciate your feedback.

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